sailed on the heaving seas. The purser was seated in his room, busy, as pursers always are at the beginning of a voyage, when there was a rap at the door.
"Come in!" shouted the important official, and there entered unto him a stranger, who said:
"Are you the purser?"
"Yes, sir. What can I do for you?"
"I have room No. 18."
"What!" cried the purser, with a gasp, almost jumping from his chair. Then he looked at the robust man before him, and sank back with a sigh of relief. It was not Keeling.
"I have room No. 18," continued the passenger, "and the arrangement I made with your people in Liverpool was that I was to have the room to myself. I do a great deal of shipping over your"
"Yes, my dear sir," said the purser, after having looked rapidly over his list, "you have No. 18 to yourself."
"So I told the man who is unpacking his luggage there; but he showed me his ticket, and it was issued before mine. I can't quite understand why your people should"
"What kind of a looking man is he?"
"A thin, unhealthy, cadaverous man, who doesn't look as if he would last till the voyage ends. I
