"'"What at?" I got a look into his eyes then, and saw he was no thief; seemed more like a carpenter or a bricklayer.

"'"Anything you can give me."

"'"Stoking?"

"'"Yes, if there's nothing else."

"'Then the Second Engineer came down the gang-plank and I turned the man over to him and went uptown. When I heard he was to be buried I sent for you, just as I had promised.'

"I had talked with Hunter about a burial at sea—it was one of the contrasts I had been waiting for. They had occurred often enough in my many crossings, but I, like the other passengers, was never informed; such sights are not proper on our side of the wall.

"'What else did he say to you?' This question I addressed to the Second Engineer.

"'Nothin'. I put him on; we ought to have six or eight more, but we couldn't get 'em—short now.'

"'Did you find the letter?' I asked.

"'No; Doctor did. He's got it now. He read it.'