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with the thought that he could still； when there was need； take his own part
in a street brawl in spite of his three…score and odd years。
His way now led towards the river…side regions； and a cleansing whiff
of tar was to be detected in the stagnant autumn air。 Men with the blue
jersey and peaked cap of the boatman； or the white ducks of the dockers；
began to replace the cardurys and fustian of the laborers。 Shops with
nautical instruments in the windows； rope and paint sellers； and slop shops
with long rows of oilskins dangling from hooks； all proclaimed the
neighborhood of the docks。 The Admiral quickened his pace and
straightened his figure as his surroundings became more nautical； until at
last； peeping between two high； dingy wharfs； he caught a glimpse of the
mud…colored waters of the Thames； and of the bristle of masts and funnels
which rose from its broad bosom。 To the right lay a quiet street； with
many brass plates upon either side； and wire blinds in all of the windows。
The Admiral walked slowly down it until 〃The Saint Lawrence Shipping
Company〃 caught his eye。 He crossed the road； pushed open the door；
and found himself in a low…ceilinged office； with a long counter at one end
and a great number of wooden sections of ships stuck upon boards and
plastered all over the walls。
〃Is Mr。 Henry in？〃 asked the Admiral。
〃No； sir；〃 answered an elderly man from a high seat in the corner。
〃He has not come into town to…day。 I can manage any business you may
wish seen to。〃
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〃You don't happen to have a first or second officer's place vacant； do
you？〃
The manager looked with a dubious eye at his singular applicant。
〃Do you hold certificates？〃 he asked。
〃I hold every nautical certificate there is。〃
〃Then you won't do for us。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Your age； sir。
〃I give you my word that I can see as well as ever； and am as good a
man in every way。〃
〃I don't doubt it。〃
〃Why should my age be a bar； then？〃
〃Well； I must put it plainly。 If a man of your age； holding certificates；
has not got past a second officer's berth； there must be a black mark
against him somewhere。 I don't know what it is； drink or temper； or want
of judgment； but something there must be。〃
〃I assure you there is nothing； but I find myself stranded； and so have
to turn to the old business again。〃
〃Oh； that's it；〃 said the manager； with suspicion in his eye。 〃How
long were you in your last billet？〃
〃Fifty…one years。〃
〃What！〃
〃Yes； sir； one…and…fifty years。〃
〃In the same employ？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Why； you must have begun as a child。〃
〃I was twelve when I joined。〃
〃It must be a strangely managed business；〃 said the manager； 〃which
allows men to leave it who have served for fifty years； and who are still as
good as ever。 Who did you serve？〃
〃The Queen。 Heaven bless her！〃
〃Oh； you were in the Royal Navy。 What rating did you hold？〃
〃I am Admiral of the Fleet。〃
The manager started； and sprang down from his high stool。
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〃My name is Admiral Hay Denver。 There is my card。 And here are
the records of my service。 I don't； you understand； want to push another
man from his billet； but if you should chance to have a berth open； I
should be very glad of it。 I know the navigation from the Cod Banks
right up to Montreal a great deal better than I know the streets of London。〃
The astonished manager glanced over the blue papers which his visitor
had handed him。 〃Won't you take a chair； Admiral？〃 said he。
〃Thank you！ But I should be obliged if you would drop my title now。
I told you because you asked me； but I've left the quarter…deck； and I am
plain Mr。 Hay Denver now。〃
〃May I ask；〃 said the manager； 〃are you the same Denver who
commanded at one time on the North American station？〃
〃I did。〃
〃Then it was you who got one of our boats； the Comus； off the rocks in
the Bay of Fundy？ The directors voted you three hundred guineas as
salvage； and you refused them。〃
〃It was an offer which should not have been made；〃 said the Admiral
sternly。
〃Well； it reflects credit upon you that you should think so。 If Mr。
Henry were here I am sure that he would arrange this matter for you at
once。 As it is； I shall lay it before the directors to…day； and I am sure that
they will be proud to have you in our employment； and； I hope； in some
more suitable position than that which you suggest。〃
〃I am very much obliged to you； sir；〃 said the Admiral； and started off
again； well pleased； upon his homeward journey。
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CHAPTER XV。
STILL AMONG SHOALS。
Next day brought the Admiral a cheque for L5；000 from Mr。
McAdam； and a stamped agreement by which he made over his pension
papers to the speculative investor。 It was not until he had signed and sent
it off that the full significance of all that he had done broke upon him。
He had sacrificed everything。 His pension was gone。 He had nothing
save only what he could earn。 But the stout old heart never quailed。 He
waited eagerly for a letter from the Saint Lawrence Shipping Company；
and in the meanwhile he gave his landlord a quarter's notice。 Hundred
pound a year houses would in future be a luxury which he could not aspire
to。 A small lodging in some inexpensive part of London must be the
substitute for his breezy Norwood villa。 So be it； then！ Better that a
thousand fold than that his name should be associated with failure and
disgrace。
On that morning Harold Denver was to meet the creditors of the firm；
and to explain the situation to them。 It was a hateful task； a degrading
task； but he set himself to do it with quiet resolution。 At home they
waited in intense