The owner received the freight paid in advance with obvious pleasure, like a good, Christian gentleman; but the intelligence of how it was earned and the disastrous conclusion of the undertaking was listened to with studied gravity.  A sermon on the danger of little sins such as covetousness and the growing love of money was impressively preached.  The owner was convinced that if ever the gentlemen involved in this little transaction got the opportunity they would take the master’s life, so in the goodness of his heart he determined that the vessel should not call there for coal until the spirit of vengeance had had ample time to cool down.

More than twelve months had elapsed since these affairs occurred, when the owner was offered a charter from the Black Sea, but one of the unalterable conditions was that the vessel should call at Gibraltar for orders.  The captain strongly urged his owner not to lose so good a charter because of his anxiety for him, but he was obdurate until the captain said—­

“Then I shall have to resign my command.  I cannot go on like this any longer.”

“If you make this the alternative, then I must give way; but the responsibility is yours alone,” was the reply.

The charter was signed, and on a fine summer day two months after, the C——­ let go her anchor in Gibraltar Harbour to await her orders.  A tall, fine-looking man came aboard to solicit business of a legitimate character.  He spoke English with fluency and an almost correct accent.  The captain knew he had some business connection with the syndicate, but did not give him any reason to suppose he had this knowledge.  He was cognisant of the characteristics of these people, and determined that his safety was in assuming an injured attitude, and making a slashing attack on the blackguards who had done him so much harm.  Excepting for a slight humorous twist in the corner of his mouth, Mr. ——­ received the onslaught with perfect equanimity.  The captain asked if he knew the rascal P——.

“Yes,” said he, “I know him.  He is a bad lot, and I advise you never to trust him again.  But if you wish me to, I will convey to him what you say; and I think you would be perfectly justified in carrying out your intention.” (The intention was to horsewhip him publicly.)

The following morning the captain landed with his wife and family, and boldly walked past the resorts of the men who he had reason to believe were on his track.  He kept his hand on the revolver which was in his trouser-pocket, and the sound of every foot behind him seemed to be a message of warning.  This ordeal went on for four days, and never a sign of the dreaded assassins was seen.  On the afternoon of the fifth day he was walking down towards the boat-landing to go on board, when his eye came in contact with the interpreter and the whole gang that were concerned in the tobacco enterprise.  There was a look of murder on their villainous faces, which the captain said would haunt him to his dying day.  He spontaneously and without thought said to his wife, who walked beside him—­