well as a coal-yard with a well-established connection, and she has left the whole thing to me."
"I congratulate you," said Thripp. "Now you are really independent and can go for Gruddle & Co. just as you like."
The skipper nodded.
"So I can, Thripp, so I can; but it is a great pleasure to me to think that I told 'em the truth and called 'em hogs before I had had this letter. Thripp, I feel more like a man than I have done since the very painful day that I had my certificate suspended. Now I'll go and tell Cade. He'll be glad to know it."
He turned to leave the bridge, when Thripp sighed.
"I suppose if you do take 'em on to Table Bay we shall get all the dirty kick-out there, sir?" said Thripp in rather a melancholy tone of voice.
The skipper laughed jovially.
"Of course we shall, Thripp, but think of the satisfaction of doin' it! Oh, but I'm a happy man this hour! And if you can guess what I mean to do in addition to takin' them where they by no manner of means want to go,
