But Captain West looked straight at me, but from oh! such a distance--millions and millions of miles away.

His clear blue eyes were as serene as ever, his tones as low and soft.
"It is the one rule I ask to be observed, Mr.Pathurst--we never discuss the sailors." It was a facer to me, and with quite a pronounced fellow-feeling for Larry I hurriedly added: "It was not merely the discipline that interested me.

It was the feat of strength." "Sailors are trouble enough without our hearing about them, Mr.
Pathurst," Captain West went on, as evenly and imperturbably as if I had not spoken.

"I leave the handling of the sailors to my officers.

That's their business, and they are quite aware that I tolerate no undeserved roughness or severity." Mr.Pike's harsh face carried the faintest shadow of an amused grin as he stolidly regarded the tablecloth.