May I ask when it will be convenient for you to settle the question, for it is not pleasant for me to feel that I am looked upon as even a possible impostor ?" "I shall not regard you as an impostor, Mr.Passford, for I mean to be entirely impartial, and I shall not brand you even in thought until the evidence warrants me in doing so," replied the commander, as he called the surgeon who was just coming on deck.

"How do you find your patient, Dr.Connelly ?" "I find him--I thought I found him; but he appears to be on deck," replied the surgeon, as he fixed his gaze upon Christy, preluded by a start, dramatic enough to prove that he was astonished to find his patient was not in his room below.

"I left him not five minutes ago, for I have not yet been able to discover what ails him.

He complained of a severe headache and pains in his bones; but he has not a particle of fever, or any symptom of anything that I can discover.

I am glad to see you on deck, Mr.Passford.How is your headache ?" "If I have had any headache, I have entirely recovered from it," replied Christy, laughing heartily.