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nessed to a varnished two…wheel cart； and the whole thing
waiting by the curb seemed no bigger than a child's toy
forgotten under the soaring trees。 Captain Eliott
waddled up to it and made as if to clamber in； but re…
frained； and keeping one hand resting easily on the
shaft； he changed the conversation from his pension； his
daughters； and his poverty back again to the only other
topic in the worldthe Marine Office； the men and the
ships of the port。
He proceeded to give instances of what was expected
of him； and his thick voice drowsed in the still air like
the obstinate droning of an enormous bumble…bee。 Cap…
tain Whalley did not know what was the force or the
weakness that prevented him from saying good…night
and walking away。 It was as though he had been too
tired to make the effort。 How queer。 More queer than
any of Ned's instances。 Or was it that overpowering
sense of idleness alone that made him stand there and
listen to these stories。 Nothing very real had ever
troubled Ned Eliott； and gradually he seemed to detect
deep in； as if wrapped up in the gross wheezy rumble；
something of the clear hearty voice of the young captain
of the Ringdove。 He wondered if he too had changed to
the same extent； and it seemed to him that the voice of
his old chum had not changed so very muchthat the
man was the same。 Not a bad fellow the pleasant； jolly
Ned Eliott； friendly； well up to his businessand always
a bit of a humbug。 He remembered how he used to
amuse his poor wife。 She could read him like an open
book。 When the Condor and the Ringdove happened to
be in port together； she would frequently ask him to
bring Captain Eliott to dinner。 They had not met often
since those old days。 Not once in five years； perhaps。
He regarded from under his white eyebrows this man
he could not bring himself to take into his confidence
at this juncture； and the other went on with his intimate
outpourings； and as remote from his hearer as though
he had been talking on a hill…top a mile away。
He was in a bit of a quandary now as to the steamer
Sofala。 Ultimately every hitch in the port came into
his hands to undo。 They would miss him when he was
gone in another eighteen months； and most likely some
retired naval officer had been pitchforked into the ap…
pointmenta man that would understand nothing and
care less。 That steamer was a coasting craft having a
steady trade connection as far north as Tenasserim； but
the trouble was she could get no captain to take her
on her regular trip。 Nobody would go in her。 He
really had no power； of course； to order a man to take
a job。 It was all very well to stretch a point on the
demand of a consul…general； but 。 。 。
〃What's the matter with the ship？〃 Captain Whalley
interrupted in measured tones。
〃Nothing's the matter。 Sound old steamer。 Her
owner has been in my office this afternoon tearing his
hair。〃
〃Is he a white man？〃 asked Whalley in an interested
voice。
〃He calls himself a white man；〃 answered the Master…
Attendant scornfully； 〃but if so； it's just skin…deep
and no more。 I told him that to his face too。〃
〃But who is he； then？〃
〃He's the chief engineer of her。 See THAT； Harry？〃
〃I see；〃 Captain Whalley said thoughtfully。 〃The
engineer。 I see。〃
How the fellow came to be a shipowner at the same
time was quite a tale。 He came out third in a home
ship nearly fifteen years ago； Captain Eliott remem…
bered； and got paid off after a bad sort of row both
with his skipper and his chief。 Anyway； they seemed
jolly glad to get rid of him at all costs。 Clearly a mu…
tinous sort of chap。 Well； he remained out here； a per…
fect nuisance； everlastingly shipped and unshipped； un…
able to keep a berth very long； pretty nigh went
through every engine…room afloat belonging to the
colony。 Then suddenly； 〃What do you think hap…
pened； Harry？〃
Captain Whalley； who seemed lost in a mental effort
as of doing a sum in his head； gave a slight start。 He
really couldn't imagine。 The Master…Attendant's voice
vibrated dully with hoarse emphasis。 The man actually
had the luck to win the second prize in the Manilla lot…
tery。 All these engineers and officers of ships took
tickets in that gamble。 It seemed to be a perfect mania
with them all。
Everybody expected now that he would take himself
off home with his money； and go to the devil in his own
way。 Not at all。 The Sofala； judged too small and
not quite modern enough for the sort of trade she was
in； could be got for a moderate price from her owners；
who had ordered a new steamer from Europe。 He
rushed in and bought her。 This man had never given
any signs of that sort of mental intoxication the mere
fact of getting hold of a large sum of money may pro…
ducenot till he got a ship of his own； but then he
went off his balance all at once： came bouncing into the
Marine Office on some transfer business； with his hat
hanging over his left eye and switching a little cane in
his hand； and told each one of the clerks separately that
〃Nobody could put him out now。 It was his turn。
There was no one over him on earth； and there never
would be either。〃 He swaggered and strutted between
the desks； talking at the top of his voice； and trembling
like a leaf all the while； so that the current business
of the office was suspended for the time he was in there；
and everybody in the big room stood open…mouthed
looking at his antics。 Afterwards he could be seen
during the hottest hours of the day with his face as
red as fire rushing along up and down the quays to look
at his ship from different points of view： he seemed
inclined to stop every stranger he came across just to
let them know 〃that there would be no longer anyone
over him； he had bought a ship； nobody on earth could
put him out of his engine…room now。〃
Good bargain as she was； the price of the Sofala took
up pretty near all the lottery…money。 He had left him…
self no capital to work with。 That did not matter so
much； for these were the halcyon days of steam coasting
trade； before some of the home shipping firms had
thought of establishing local fleets to feed their main
lines。 These； when once organized； took the biggest
slices out of that cake； of course； and by…and…by a squad
of confounded German tramps turned up east of Suez
Canal and swept up all the crum