CHAPTER XIV.
"Thus the merry Pau-Puk-Keewis Danced his Beggar's Dance to please them, And, returning, sat down laughing."-- _Hiawatha_.
"GOD be thanked, the meanest of His creatures Boasts two soul-sides; one to face the world with, One to show a woman when he loves her." ROBERT BROWNING.
The fact that when we got back to the _Water-Lily_, Alister found the captain dead drunk in his cabin, sealed our resolution to have nothing more to do with her when we were paid off, and our engagement ended (as had been agreed upon) in the Georgetown harbour.

There was no fear that we should fail to get berths as common seamen now, if we wanted them; and there was not a thing to regret about the _Slut_, except perhaps Alfonso, of whom we were really fond.

As it turned out, we had not even to mourn for him, for he cut cable from the _Water-Lily_ too, having plans of his own, about which he made a great deal of mystery and displayed his wonted importance, but whether they were matrimonial or professional, I doubt if even Dennis knew at the time.
Alister _had_ something to lose.

It was not a small consideration to give up his mate's berth, but he said the whole conduct of the ship was "against his conscience," and that settled the matter, to him.
When we were our own masters once more, we held another big council about our future.

If I went home at once, I must, somehow or other, get back to Halifax before I could profit by Uncle Henry's arrangement.