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of confounded German tramps turned up east of Suez
Canal and swept up all the crumbs。 They prowled on
the cheap to and fro along the coast and between the
islands； like a lot of sharks in the water ready to snap
up anything you let drop。 And then the high old times
were over for good； for years the Sofala had made no
more； he judged； than a fair living。 Captain Eliott
looked upon it as his duty in every way to assist an
English ship to hold her own； and it stood to reason
that if for want of a captain the Sofala began to miss
her trips she would very soon lose her trade。 There was
the quandary。 The man was too impracticable。 〃Too
much of a beggar on horseback from the first；〃 he ex…
plained。 〃Seemed to grow worse as the time went on。
In the last three years he's run through eleven skippers；
he had tried every single man here； outside of the regu…
lar lines。 I had warned him before that this would not
do。 And now； of course； no one will look at the Sofala。
I had one or two men up at my office and talked to
them； but； as they said to me； what was the good of
taking the berth to lead a regular dog's life for a
month and then get the sack at the end of the first trip？
The fellow； of course； told me it was all nonsense； there
has been a plot hatching for years against him。 And
now it had come。 All the horrid sailors in the port had
conspired to bring him to his knees； because he was an
engineer。〃
Captain Eliott emitted a throaty chuckle。
〃And the fact is； that if he misses a couple more trips
he need never trouble himself to start again。 He won't
find any cargo in his old trade。 There's too much com…
petition nowadays for people to keep their stuff lying
about for a ship that does not turn up when she's ex…
pected。 It's a bad lookout for him。 He swears he will
shut himself on board and starve to death in his cabin
rather than sell hereven if he could find a buyer。 And
that's not likely in the least。 Not even the Japs would
give her insured value for her。 It isn't like selling
sailing…ships。 Steamers DO get out of date； besides get…
ting old。〃
〃He must have laid by a good bit of money though；〃
observed Captain Whalley quietly。
The Harbor…master puffed out his purple cheeks to
an amazing size。
〃Not a stiver； Harry。 Notasinglesti…ver。〃
He waited； but as Captain Whalley； stroking his
beard slowly； looked down on the ground without a
word； he tapped him on the forearm； tiptoed； and said
in a hoarse whisper
〃The Manilla lottery has been eating him up。〃
He frowned a little； nodding in tiny affirmative jerks。
They all were going in for it； a third of the wages
paid to ships' officers （〃in my port；〃 he snorted） went
to Manilla。 It was a mania。 That fellow Massy had
been bitten by it like the rest of them from the first；
but after winning once he seemed to have persuaded
himself he had only to try again to get another big
prize。 He had taken dozens and scores of tickets for
every drawing since。 What with this vice and his ig…
norance of affairs； ever since he had improvidently
bought that steamer he had been more or less short of
money。
This； in Captain Eliott's opinion； gave an opening
for a sensible sailor…man with a few pounds to step in
and save that fool from the consequences of his folly。
It was his craze to quarrel with his captains。 He had
had some really good men too； who would have been
too glad to stay if he would only let them。 But no。 He
seemed to think he was no owner unless he was kicking
somebody out in the morning and having a row with
the new man in the evening。 What was wanted for him
was a master with a couple of hundred or so to take
an interest in the ship on proper conditions。 You don't
discharge a man for no fault； only because of the fun
of telling him to pack up his traps and go ashore； when
you know that in that case you are bound to buy back
his share。 On the other hand； a fellow with an interest
in the ship is not likely to throw up his job in a huff
about a trifle。 He had told Massy that。 He had said：
〃'This won't do； Mr。 Massy。 We are getting very
sick of you here in the Marine Office。 What you must
do now is to try whether you could get a sailor to join
you as partner。 That seems to be the only way。' And
that was sound advice； Harry。〃
Captain Whalley； leaning on his stick； was perfectly
still all over； and his hand； arrested in the act of strok…
ing； grasped his whole beard。 And what did the fellow
say to that？
The fellow had the audacity to fly out at the Master…
Attendant。 He had received the advice in a most im…
pudent manner。 〃I didn't come here to be laughed at；〃
he had shrieked。 〃I appeal to you as an Englishman
and a shipowner brought to the verge of ruin by an
illegal conspiracy of your beggarly sailors； and all you
condescend to do for me is to tell me to go and get a
partner！〃 。 。 。 The fellow had presumed to stamp
with rage on the floor of the private office。 Where was
he going to get a partner？ Was he being taken for
a fool？ Not a single one of that contemptible lot ashore
at the 〃Home〃 had twopence in his pocket to bless
himself with。 The very native curs in the bazaar knew
that much。 。 。 。 〃And it's true enough； Harry；〃 rum…
bled Captain Eliott judicially。 〃They are much more
likely one and all to owe money to the Chinamen in
Denham Road for the clothes on their backs。 'Well；'
said I； 'you make too much noise over it for my taste；
Mr。 Massy。 Good morning。' He banged the door after
him； he dared to bang my door； confound his cheek！〃
The head of the Marine department was out of breath
with indignation； then recollecting himself as it were；
〃I'll end by being late to dinneryarning with you
here 。 。 。 wife doesn't like it。〃
He clambered ponderously into the trap； leaned out
sideways； and only then wondered wheezily what on
earth Captain Whalley could have been doing with
himself of late。 They had had no sight of each other
for years and years till the other day when he had seen
him unexpectedly in the office。
What on earth 。 。 。
Captain Whalley seemed to be smiling to himself in his
white beard。
〃The earth is big；〃 he said vaguely。
The other； as if to test the statement； stared all round
from his driving…seat。 The Esplanade was very quiet；
only from afar；