“He knew I was engaged to a young woman in this country, and that I was willing to work hard to save money to make up a comfortable home for us both, and that I would not sail again, but that I intended to remain ashore, and make up my mind to a shore life.”

“Well, you would have a house then?”

“Exactly; and that’s what I wished to do.  Well, I made a small venture in the cargo, and thought, by so doing, that I should have a chance of realizing a sum of money that would put us both in a comfortable line of business.

“Well, we went on very smoothly until we were coming back.  We had disposed of the cargo, and I had received some money, and this seemed to cause our captain to hate me, because I had been successful; but I thought there was something else in it than that, but I could not tell what it was that made him so intolerably cross and tyrannous.

“Well, I found out, at length, he knew my intended wife.  He knew her very well, and at the same time he made every effort he could to induce me to commit some act of disobedience and insubordination; but I would not, for it seemed to me he was trying all he could to prevent my doing my duty with anything like comfort.

“However, I learned the cause of all this afterwards.  It was told me by one of the crew.

“‘Bill,’ said my mate, ‘look out for yourself.’

“‘What’s in the wind?’ said I.

“’Only the captain has made a dead set at you, and you’ll be a lucky man if you escape.’

“‘What’s it all about?’ said I.  ’I cannot understand what he means.  I have done nothing wrong.  I don’t see why I should suddenly be treated in this way.’

“‘It’s all about your girl, Bill.’

“‘Indeed!’ said I.  ’What can that have to do with the captain? he knows nothing of her.’

“‘Oh, yes, he does,’ he said.  ’If it were not for you he would have the girl himself.’

“‘I see now,’ said I.

“’Ay, and so can a blind man if you open his eyes; but he wants to make you do wrong—­to goad you on to do something that will give him the power of disgracing you, and, perhaps, of punishing you.’

“‘He won’t do that,’ said I.

“’I am glad to hear you say so, Bill; for, to my mind, he has made up his mind to go the whole length against you.  I can’t make it out, unless he wishes you were dead.’

“‘I dare say he does,’ said I; ’but I will take care I will live to exact a reckoning when he comes ashore.’

“’That is the best; and when we are paid off, Bill, if you will take it out of him, and pay him off, why, I don’t care if I lend you a hand.’

“‘We’ll say more about that, Dick,’ said I, ’when we get ashore and are paid off.  If we are overheard now, it will be said that we are conspiring, or committing mutiny, or something of that sort.’

“‘You are right, Bill,’ he said—­’you are right.  We’ll say no more about this now, but you may reckon upon me when we are no longer under his orders.’