a menu-card- and had it sent to the Chief Engineer. It said:--

Dear Chief: Please keep up a good head of steam to-night. I am
expecting dirty weather.

MR. GISSING,
(Staff-Captain)

What the Chief said when he received the message is not included
in the story.

But the same social aplomb that had made Gissing successful as a
floorwalker now came to his rescue as mariner. The passengers at
the Captain's table were amazed at his genial charm. His
anecdotes of sea life were heartily applauded. After dinner he
circulated gracefully in the ladies' lounge, and took coffee
there surrounded by a chattering bevy. He organized a little
impromptu concert in the music room, and when that was well
started, slipped away to the smoke-room. Here he found a pool
being organized as to the exact day and hour when the Pomerania
would reach port. Appealed to for his opinion, he advised
caution. On all sides he was in demand, for dancing, for bridge,
for a recitation. At length he slipped away, pleading that he
must keep himself fit in case of fog. The passengers were loud in
his praise, asserting that they had never met so agreeable a
sea-captain. One elderly lady said she remembered crossing with
him in the old Caninia, years ago, and that he was just the same
then.