Both men had risen and the captain was pacing the floor as Rowland, with flashing eyes and clinched fists, delivered this declaration.

“A result to be hoped for, Rowland,” said the former, pausing before him, “but beyond your power or mine to accomplish. Is the amount I named large enough? Could you fill a position on my bridge? “

“I can fill a higher; and your company is not rich enough to buy me.”

“You seem to be a man without ambition; but you must have wants.”

“Food, clothing, shelter-and whisky,” said Rowland with a bitter, self-contemptuous laugh. The captain reached down a decanter and two glasses from a swinging tray and said as he placed them before him:

“Here is one of your wants; fill up.” Rowland’s eyes glistened as he poured out a glassful, and the captain followed.

“I will drink with you, Rowland,” he said; “here is to our better understanding.” He tossed off the liquor; then Rowland, who had waited, said: “I prefer drinking alone, captain,” and drank the whisky at a gulp. The captain’s face flushed at the affront, but he controlled himself.

“Go on deck, now, Rowland,” he said; “I will talk with you again before we reach soundings. Meanwhile, I request—not require, but request—that you hold no useless conversation with your shipmates in regard to this matter.”

To this first officer, when relieved at eight bells, the captain said: “He is a broken-down wreck with a temporarily active conscience; but is not the man to buy or intimidate: he knows too much. However, we’ve found his weak point. If he gets snakes before we dock, his testimony is worthless. Fill him up and I’ll see the surgeon, and study up on drugs.”

When Rowland turned out to breakfast at seven bells that morning, he found a pint flask in the pocket of his pea-jacket, which he felt of but did not pull out in sight of his watchmates.

“Well, captain,” he thought, “you are, in truth, about as puerile, insipid a scoundrel as ever escaped the law. I’ll save you your drugged Dutch courage for evidence.” But it was not drugged, as he learned later. It was good whisky—a leader—to warm his stomach while the captain was studying.