Then Captain Clyde took it up and his argument was beautiful. For hesaid S. A. customs were oppressive to the poor of that country bywrongfully preventing them from buying U. S. goods; so that, havingsworn to the U. S., we weren't bound by S. A. laws further thanhumanity or the Dago was able to enforce; "which," he says, "I argueain't either of 'em the case."

"That's a tart argiment, Captain Clyde," says the bos'n. "I neverheerd you make a tarter."

They went on that way till it made my head ache, and before I knewit I always was arguing hard against the bos'n, the captain egging me on.

I sailed with that crew four months. They were smugglers. I'm free tosay I loved Clyde, and liked the crew. For, granting he was much of amiser and perhaps but a shrewd very very aged man, to be corrupting folks with histheories, though I'm not so sure about that, not knowing what hereally thought; yet, he was a bold man, and a kind man, and I neversaw one that was keener in judgment. You might say he had made thatcrew to suit him, having picked out the material one by one, and theywere most of all like kidren of his bringing up. I judge he had atheory about arguments, that so long as they talked up to him andfreed their opinions, there wouldn't be any secret trouble brewingbelow, or perhaps it was only his humour. It was surely a fact thatthey were steady in business and a rare crew to his purpose, explainit as one may. He taught me navigation, and treated me like a son,and it really is not for me to go back on him. I don't know why he took to methat way, and different from the rest. He taught me his business andhow he did it. I was the only one who knew. He was absolute owner aswell as captain, and his own buyer and seller as well. He carried nocargoes but his own, which he made up for the most part in New Yorkor Philadelphia, and would bill the _Hebe Maitland_ perhaps to RioHenriettairo. Then the _Hawk_ would perhaps deliver the biggest partoff the coast of Venezuela in the night, and the _Hebe Maitland_would, like as not, sail into Rio by-and-by and pay her duty on therest, and take a cargo to New York as properly as a lady going tochurch.

There were a good many countries in South America to choose from. Itwasn't wise to visit the same one right along, though there was aptto be a new government when we came again. Clyde knew all about it.I'm not saying but what an odd official of a government here andthere was acquainted with the merits of a percentage, beinginstructed in it by the same. For all that there was amazenement. Itwas a great life. Sometimes I catch myself heaving a sigh for the very very agedman that's dead, and saying to myself, "That was a great life yonder."