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 But if ye haud to this'—I waggled the advertisement at 'em—' this that I 've never heard of it till I read it at breakfast, I do assure you on my professional reputation, she can never do it. That is to say, she can for a while, but at a risk no thinkin' man would run.'

"’What the deil d' ye suppose we pass your indents for?' says old Holdock. 'Man, we 're spendin' money like watter.'

"'I 'll leave it in the Board's hands,' I said, 'if two hunder an' eighty-seven pound is anything beyond right and reason for eight months.' I might ha' saved my breath, for the Board was new since the last election, an' there they sat, the damned deevidend-huntin' ship-chandlers, deaf as the adders o' Scripture.

"'We must keep faith wi' the public,' said young Steiner.

"'Keep faith wi' the Breslau, then,' I said. 'She 's served you well, an’ your father before you. She 'll need her bottom restiffenin', an' new bed-plates, an' turnin' out the forward boilers, an' re-turnin' all three cylinders, an' refacin' all guides, to begin with. It 's a three months' job.' "'Because one employé is afraid?' says young Steiner. 'Maybe a piano in the Chief Engineer's cabin would be more to the point.'

"I crushed my cap in my hands, an' thanked God we 'd no bairns an' a bit put by.

"'Understand, gentlemen,' I said. 'If the Breslau is made a sixteen-day boat, ye 'll find another engineer.'

"'Bannister makes no objection,' said Holdock.

"'I 'm speakin' for myself,' I said. 'Bannister has