We had worked her round to Sydney all right. Then the Health Authorities ordered us off: after which we went and lay off Thursday Island till the firm who had chartered us could wire instructions.
In desperation, our people wired us to go to Singapore in ballast and get any sort of cargo there we could.
I was sorry to leave Thursday Island; the telegraph stationmaster there had a daughter. Her first name was Mary, and, if I can manage it, one of these days her second will be the same as mine.
We got a move on us and were well in the Straits by eight bells that afternoon, and it being the First Mate's watch, the Second Mate came to my cabin to smoke a bit.
"Ever been to Singapore?" he asked.
"No," I said; "never went further than Calcutta that way. Have you?"
"Yes," he answered; "it'll be just about three years ago."
"Nice place?" I asked.
"Terrible hole," he answered. "See that stone? I got that there."
I took the ring off his finger and examined it; it was worth looking at, too. Not for the mounting, which was ordinary enough, but for the jewel it held. I had never seen a stone like it before, and never again since—but I'll tell that part by-and-by.