trousers. It was true that the garments were in grievous
condition, but they were worn with an air. The stowaway's face
showed some embarrassment, but not at all the usual hangdog mien
of such wastrels. Involuntarily his tongue moistened when he saw
the tray of tea (for he had not eaten since his supper on the
steam roller the night before), but he kept his eyes politely
averted from the food. They rose to a white-painted girder that
ran athwart the cabin ceiling. CERTIFIED TO ACCOMMODATE THE
MASTER he read there, in letters deeply incised into the thick
paint. "A good Christian ship," he said to himself. "It sounds
like the Y. M. C. A." He was pleased to think that his suspicion
was already confirmed: ships were more religious than anything on
land.

The Captain dismissed the quartermaster, and addressed himself
sternly to the culprit.

"Well, what have you to say for yourself?"

"Please, Captain," said Gissing politely, "do not allow your tea
to get cold. I can talk while you eat." Behind his grim demeanour
the Captain was very near to smiling at this naivete. No Briton
is wholly implacable at tea-time, and he felt a genuine curiosity
about this unusual offender.

"What was your idea in coming aboard?" he said. "Do you know that
I can put you in irons until we get across, and then have you
sent home for punishment? I suppose it's the old story: you want
to go sight-seeing on the other side?"