was wrecked; the skipper and crew were picked up by Ben Peese and taken to China. He bought the barque for me for four hundred dollars, and I beat up to Arnu, and asked George if he would get me fifty Arnu natives to go with me to the wreck and either try and float it or strip her. The d—d Marcaroni-eating sweep promised to get me the men in a week or two, so I squared away for Madura, where I had two traders. Bad weather came on, and when I got back to Arnu, the fellow told me that a big canoe had come down from the Radacks and reported that the barque had gone to pieces. The infernal scoundrel! Had I known that he had put you on to her I'd have taken it out of his hide. Who is this young gentleman?"
"A friend of mine, Captain, thinking of takin' a voyage with me for recruitin' of his health, " and the lantern-jawed Slocum introduced us.
Drawing his seat up to me, Hayston placed his hand on my shoulder, and said with a laugh, looking intensely at Slocum, who was nervously twisting his fingers, "Oh! a recruitin' of his health, is he? or rather recruitin' of your pocket? I'm glad I dropped in on you and made his acquaintance. I could tell him a few droll stories about the pious Slocum."
Slocum said nothing, but laughed in a sickly way.
Leaning forward with a smiling face, he said, "What did you clear out of my barque, you good Slocum?"
"Nigh on a thousand dollars."
"You know you lie, Slocum! you must have done better than that."
"I kin show my receipts if you come aboard," he answered in shaky tones.
"Well, I'll take your word, you sanctimonious old shark, and five hundred dollars for my share."
"Why, sartin, Captain! that's fair and square," said the other, as his sallow face lighted up, "I'll give you the dollars to-morrow morning."
