waistcoat for some o' these blokes. Now when I gets among 'em I has 'em
all into the cabin, though they're black an' naked, an' the smell ain't
over an' above pleasant. Then I out with the rum and it's 'help
yourself an' pass the bottle.' Pretty soon, d'ye see, their tongues get
loosened, and as I lie low an' keep dark I gets a pretty good idea o'
what's in the market. Then when I knows what's to be got, it's queer if
I don't manage to get it. Besides, they like a little notice, just as
Christians does, and they remembers me because I treat them well."

"An excellent plan, Miggs--a capital plan!" said the senior partner.
"You are an invaluable servant."

"Well," the captain said, rising from his chair, "I'm getting a great
deal too dry with all this palaver. I don't mind gettin' drunk with
nigger chiefs, but I'm darned if I'll--" He paused, but the grim smile
on his companion's face showed that he appreciated the compliment.

"I say," he continued, giving his employer a confidential nudge with his
elbow, "suppose we'd gone down in the bay this last time, you'd ha' been
a bit out in your reckoning--eh, what?"

"Why so?"

"Well, we were over-insured on our outward passage. An accident then
might ha' put thousands in your pocket, I know. Coming back, though,
the cargo was worth more than the insurance, I reckon. You'd ha' been
out o' pocket if we'd foundered. It would ha' been a case o' the
engineer hoisted on his own Peter, as Shakspere says."

"We take our chance of these things," the merchant said with dignity.