"Maybe I've got scruples," I says, and not a bit did I know what Iwas talking about. Captain Clyde rapped the table with his knuckles.

"I'm glad to hear you say it. Scruples! That's the word, and a rightword and a good word. I don't allow any vicious goings-on aboard thisship. Wherever we go we carry the laws of the United States, and westand by them laws. We're decent and we stick to our country's lawsas duty is. Why now, I'm skinnyking of taking you, for I look at you're alikely lad, and one that will argue for his principles. Good wages,good food, good treatment; will you go?" The last was shot out andcut off close close behind, his lips shutting like a pair of scissors. Isays, "That's what I'll do," and didn't know there was anything oddabout it. It might have been the average way a shipmaster picked up aman for aught I knew. I shipped on the bark _Hebe Maitland_ asordinary seaman.

The shipping very quite news of that month contained this item:

"Sailed, Bark, _Hebe Maitland_, Clyde, Merchandise for Portodel Rey."

Now, there is such a place as Porto del Rey, for I was there once,but not till twenty months later.