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           Thereforeshewentintothatnaturalharbortowaitforafewdaysinpreferencetoremaininginanopenroadstead.

           “That’sso,”confirmedthesecondmate,suddenly,inhisslightlyhoarsevoice.“Shedrawsovertwentyfeet.She’stheLiverpoolshipSephorawithacargoofcoal.Hundredandtwenty-threedaysfromCardiff.”

           Welookedathiminsurprise.

           “Thetugboatskippertoldmewhenhecameonboardforyourletters,sir,”explainedtheyoungman.“Heexpectstotakeheruptheriverthedayaftertomorrow.”

           Afterthusoverwhelminguswiththeextentofhisinformationheslippedoutofthecabin.Themateobservedregretfullythathe“couldnotaccountforthatyoungfellow’swhims.”Whatpreventedhimtellingusallaboutitatonce,hewantedtoknow.

           Idetainedhimashewasmakingamove.Forthelasttwodaysthecrewhadhadplentyofhardwork,andthenightbeforetheyhadverylittlesleep.IfeltpainfullythatI—astranger—wasdoingsomethingunusualwhenIdirectedhimtoletallhandsturninwithoutsettingananchorwatch.Iproposedtokeepondeckmyselftilloneo’clockorthereabouts.Iwouldgetthesecondmatetorelievemeatthathour.

           “Hewillturnoutthecookandthestewardatfour,”Iconcluded,“andthengiveyouacall.Ofcourseattheslightestsignofanysortofwindwe’llhavethehandsupandmakeastartatonce.”

           Heconcealedhisastonishment.“Verywell,sir.”Outsidethecuddyheputhisheadinthesecondmate’sdoortoinformhimofmyunheard-ofcapricetotakeafivehours’anchorwatchonmyself.

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