“July 11th.—­We start in a week’s time.  I had a long talk with Captain Holding to-day; he hopes to make a fairly quick passage, but says he is short of hands.  I have not seen the Concanens since.

“July 16th.—­We sail to-morrow afternoon.  I have been down to make my final preparations, and find my cabin much to my liking.  Captain Holding is still short of hands.

“July 17th., 7.30 p.m.—­We cast off our warps shortly after four o’clock, and were quickly running homeward at about seven knots an hour.  The Concanens stood on deck with me watching Ceylon grow dim on the horizon.  As the proud cone of Adam’s Peak faded softly and slowly into the evening mist, and so vanished, as I hope, for ever out of my life, I could not forbear returning thanks to Providence, which has thus far watched over me so wonderfully.  There is a fair breeze, and the hands, though short, do their work well to all appearances.  There were only fifteen yesterday, three having been missed for about a week before we sailed; but I have not yet seen Captain Holding to ask him if he made up his number of hands at the last moment.  Mrs. Concanen has invited me to their cabin to have a chat about England.

“July 18th.—­I am more disturbed than I care to own by a very curious discovery which I made this morning.  As I issued on deck I saw a man standing by the forecastle, whose back seemed familiar to me.  Presently he turned, and I saw him to be Simon Colliver.  He has most strangely altered his appearance, being dressed now as a common sailor, and wearing rings in his ears as the custom is.  Catching sight of me, he came forward with a pleasant smile and explained himself.

“’It is no manner of use, Trenoweth; we’re fated to meet.  You did not expect to see me here in this get-up; but I learnt last night you were on board.  You look as though you had seen a ghost!  Don’t stare so, man—­I should say ‘sir’ now, I suppose—­it’s only another of fortune’s rubs.  I fell ill after that journey to the Peak, and although Railton nursed me like a woman—­he’s a good fellow, Railton, and not as rough as you would expect—­I woke up out of my fever at last to find all the money gone.  I’m a fellow of resource, Trenoweth, so I hit on the idea of working my passage home; by good luck found the Belle Fortune was short of hands, offered my services, was accepted—­having been to sea before, you know—­sold my old clothes for this costume—­must dress when one is acting a part—­ and here I am.’

“‘Is Railton with you?’ I asked.

“’Oh, yes, similarly attired.  I did not see you yesterday, being busy with the cargo, so that it’s all the more pleasant to meet here.  But work is the order of the day now.  You’ll give me a good character to the captain, won’t you?  Good-bye for the present.’