head; but look at me now. Do I tremble? do I shake? Here, feel my
pulse."

Phil, who stood nearest, put his finger on the outstretched wrist
of the captain.

"Doos it beat?"

"No," said Phil.

"Course it beats; but then it ony beats nateral. You ain't feelin
the right spot--the humane pulse not bein sitooated on the BACK of
the hand," he added mildly, "but here;" and he removed Phil's
inexperienced finger to the place where the pulse lies. "Thar,
now," he added, "as that pulse beats now, even so it beat a half
hour ago, before that thar steamer hev in sight. Why, boys, I've
knowed the time when this humane pulse bet like all possessed. You
see, I've lived a life of adventoor, in spite of my meek and quiet
natoor, an hev dabbled at odd times in the smugglin business. But
they don't catch me this time--I've retired from that thar, an the
Antelope lets the revenoo rest in peace."

The boat drew nearer and nearer, and the officer at the stern
looked scrutinizingly at the Antelope. There was an air of
perplexity about his face, which was very visible to those on
board, and the perplexity deepened and intensified as his eyes
rested on the flag of the "B. O. W. C."

"Leave him to me," said Captain Corbet. "Leave that thar young man
to me. I enjy havin to do with a revenoo officer jest now; so