"And alone ?" "Yes; why not ?" "And you know me ?" "Three thousand years ago," cried I, "when you and I had a warmer job than we have now" (even this was hot).

"You were then Jenkinson, but if you have changed your name I don't blame you for that." Mr.Jenkins, forbearing soul, entered into the spirit of the jest, which served the _Spray_ a good turn, for on the strength of this tale it got out that if any one should go on board after dark the devil would get him at once.

And so I could leave the _Spray_ without the fear of her being robbed at night.

The cabin, to be sure, was broken into, but it was done in daylight, and the thieves got no more than a box of smoked herrings before "Tom" Ledson, one of the port officials, caught them red-handed, as it were, and sent them to jail.

This was discouraging to pilferers, for they feared Ledson more than they feared Satan himself.