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168 Seamen's Hospital in America, it was quite time there should be one; and so they proposed that the money should be given to the future hospital, if it did not already exist.

When everything was prepared for the second concert there came a bolt from the blue. It was rumored round the ship that the captain had refused his permission for the second concert to be held.

The American men, who had up to date looked with a certain amused indifference on the efforts of the ladies, now rallied and held a meeting in the smoking room. Everyone felt that a crisis had come, and that the time to let loose the dogs of war&mdash;sea-dogs in this instance&mdash;had arrived. A committee was appointed to wait upon the captain next day. The following morning the excitement was at its highest pitch. It was not safe for an American to be seen conversing with an English man, or vice versa.

Rumor had it at first&mdash;in fact all sorts of wild rumors were flying around the whole forenoon&mdash;that the captain refused to see the delegation of gentlemen who had requested audience with him. This rumor, however, turned out to be incorrect. He received the delegation in his room, with one or