That's the trouble with this brig racket; any one can make half a dozen theories for sixty or seventy per cent of it; but when they're made, there's always a fathom or two of slack hanging out of the other end." I believe our attention fell next on the papers, of which we had altogether a considerable bulk.

I had hoped to find among these matter for a full-length character of Captain Trent; but here I was doomed, on the whole, to disappointment.

We could make out he was an orderly man, for all his bills were docketed and preserved.

That he was convivial, and inclined to be frugal even in conviviality, several documents proclaimed.

Such letters as we found were, with one exception, arid notes from tradesmen.