fetches loose.'

'Captain,' said Herrick faintly, 'is there nothing else?'

I'll prophesy if you like,' said the captain with renewed vigour.

Refuse this, because you think yourself too honest, and before a

month's out you'll be jailed for a sneak-thief. I give you the word

fair. I can see it, Herrick, if you can't; you're breaking down.

Don't think, if you refuse this chance, that you'll go on doing the

evangelical; you're about through with your stock; and before you know

where you are, you'll be right out on the other side. No, it's either

this for you; or else it's Caledonia. I bet you never were there, and

saw those white, shaved men, in their dust clothes and straw hats,

prowling around in gangs in the lamplight at Noumea; they look like

wolves, and they look like preachers, and they look like the sick; Hulsh

is a daisy to the best of them. Well, there's your company. They're

waiting for you, Herrick, and you got to go; and that's a prophecy.'

And as the man stood and shook through his great stature, he seemed

indeed like one in whom the spirit of divination worked and might utter

oracles. Herrick looked at him, and looked away; It seemed not decent to

spy upon such agitation; and the young man's courage sank.

'You talk of going home,' he objected. 'We could never do that.'

'WE could,' said the other. 'Captain Brown couldn't, nor Mr Hay, that

shipped mate with him couldn't. But what's that to do with Captain Davis

The Ebb-Tide