Captain Kedgick was sitting in the colonnade, with a julep on his knee, and a cigar in his mouth. He caught Mark's eye, and said:

`Why, what the 'Tarnal brings you here?'

`I'll tell you plainly what it is, Captain,' said Mark. `I want to ask you a question.'

`A man may ask a question, so he may,' returned Kedgick: strongly implying that another man might not answer a question, so he mightn't.

`What have they been making so much of him for, now?' said Mark, slyly. `Come!'

`Our people like ex-citement,' answered Kedgick, sucking his cigar.

`But how has he excited 'em?' asked Mark.

The Captain looked at him as if he were half inclined to unburden his mind of a capital joke.

`You air a-going?' he said.

`Going!' cried Mark. `Ain't every moment precious?'

`Our people like ex-citement,' said the Captain, whispering. `He ain't like emigrants in gin'ral; and he excited 'em along of this;' he winked and burst into a smothered laugh; `along of this. Scadder is a smart man, and--and--nobody as goes to Eden ever comes back alive!'

The wharf was close at hand, and at that instant Mark could hear them shouting out his name; could even hear Martin calling to him to make haste, or they would be separated. It was too late to mend the matter, or put any face upon it but the best. He gave the Captain a parting benediction, and ran off like a race-horse.

`Mark! Mark!' cried Martin.

`Here am I, sir!' shouted Mark, suddenly replying from the edge of the quay, and leaping at a bound on board. `Never was half so jolly, sir. All right. Haul in! Go ahead!'

The sparks from the wood fire streamed upward from the two chimneys, as if the vessel were a great firework just lighted; and they roared away upon the dark water.