Swan, 375 tons.  Captain R. Evans.
     Sparrow, 461 tons.  Captain James Evans.
     s.s. Starling, 880 tons.  Captain Enoch Shaw.
     s.s. Parakeet, 2,100 tons.  Captain Murray.
     s.s.  Building, 3,500 tons.  Captain O. Kettle.
     s.s.  Building, 3,500 tons.  Captain ...
     s.s.  Building, 4,000 tons.  Captain ... 
       “The superb vessels of the Bird Line!”

     Dear Captain Kettle,—­

Having noted from your cables and reports you are making a good thing for us out of tramping the “Parakeet,” we have pleasure in transferring you to our new boat, which is now building on the Clyde.  She will be 3,500 tons, and we may take out passenger certificate, she being constructed on that specification.  Your pay will be L21 (twenty-one pound) per month, with 2-1/2 per cent. commission as before.  But for the present, till this new boat is finished, we want you to give over command of the “Parakeet” to Murray, and take on a new job.  Our Mr. Alexander Bird has recently bought the wreck of the s.s.  “Grecian,” and we are sending out a steamer with divers and full equipment to get the salvage.  We wish you to go on board this vessel to watch over our interests.  We give you full control, and have notified Captain Tazzuchi, at present in command, to this effect_.

     Yours truly, p.p.  Bird, Bird and Co. (Isaac Bird.)

     To Captain O. Kettle, s.s.  “Parakeet,” Bird Line, Aden.

“I see they have clapped me down on the bill heading for the Parakeet already,” said Murray, “and you’re shifted along in print for the new ship.  Birds are getting on.  But I’ve big doubts about three new boats all at one bite.  One they might manage on a mortgage.  But three?  I don’t think it.  Old Ikey’s too cautious.”

“Messrs. Bird are your owners and mine,” said Kettle significantly.

“Oh!” said the newly-made captain, “I’m not one of your old-fashioned sort that thinks an owner a little tin god.”

“My view is,” said Kettle, “that your owner pays you, and so is entitled to your respect so long as he is your owner.  Besides that, whilst you are drawing pay, you’re expected to carry out orders, whatever they may be, without question.  But I don’t think we’ll talk any more about this, my lad.  You’re one of the newer school, I know, and you’ve got such a big notion of your own rights that we’re not likely to agree.  Besides, you’ve got to check my accounts and see I’ve left it all for you ship-shape, and I’ve to pull my bits of things together into a portmanteau.  See you again before I go away, and we’ll have a drop of whisky together to wish the Parakeet’s new ‘old man’ a pile of luck.”

At the edge of the harbor, Aden baked under the sun, but Kettle was not the man to filch his employer’s time for unnecessary strolls ashore.  The salvage steamer rolled at her anchor at the opposite side of the harbor, and Kettle and two portmanteaux were transhipped direct in one of the Parakeet’s boats.