A Chinese Command | Page 7

for a drastic change of government; so that I am really
very undecided what to do, Dick. One thing is certain--I must get
employment of some kind; and if you are seriously of opinion that I can
accept Drake's offer without soiling my hands I shall most certainly do
so. I have considered the matter pretty thoroughly myself on the way
home, and, to tell the truth, I have almost persuaded myself that I may
accept."
Dick Penryn, who during this narrative had been leaning back in his
chair smoking, and listening attentively, took his pipe from his mouth,
tapped the ashes out slowly and thoughtfully against the bars of the
grate, and sat up straight. Then, after a lengthy pause, he delivered
judgment.
"Well, Murray," he said, "I've listened most attentively to your yarn,
and I've been trying to look at the matter from an unprejudiced and
independent standpoint. Of course, as you very truthfully say, anything
in the nature of gun-running or smuggling is totally opposed to all our
Navy traditions. At the same time, you are, unfortunately, no longer in
the Navy; to all intents and purposes you are now a private individual,
at liberty to take up any calling, profession, trade, or whatever you care
to term it, that offers you a chance to make a living. Employment of
some sort you certainly must have; and so long as that employment is
honest--I might almost say in your particular case, so long as it is not
dishonest--I think you will be wise to take the first thing that offers.
"You have been out of harness for over a year now, and your ready
cash must be running pretty low, I should think; besides, this is the first
offer that has come your way since you left the Navy, and if you do not
accept it while you have the opportunity, it may perhaps be another
year or more before you are given another chance. Personally, I do not
see anything wrong with Drake's proposal. It is a purely business
enterprise. Certain folk require certain goods, and Drake contracts to
supply them. In order to carry out his agreement he needs your help,

and is willing to pay very handsomely for it; so my advice to you, my
son, is that you take what is offered, and be thankful. Of course I need
not say that if the arms had been intended for any country at war, or
likely at any time to be at war, with England, such a thing would be
absolutely impossible for you to contemplate for a moment; but as
things are--well, I have no hesitation in saying that under similar
circumstances my conscience would not worry me very much."
At this very clear and definite expression of opinion, Frobisher's
anxious expression vanished. He had evidently been a little afraid that
his friend might not look altogether favourably on the scheme; and he
was not so deeply in love with it himself that he would have felt
inclined to follow it up had Dick voted against it or pronounced it of
too "shady" a character for a gentleman to meddle with. But since
Dick's views coincided so completely with his own, he felt that there
could be no longer any room for hesitation.
"I'm glad indeed to hear you say that, Dick," he exclaimed, jumping up.
"It decides me absolutely. Tomorrow I'll run down to the docks, see
Drake on board the Quernmore instead of waiting to meet him at the
hotel as I had arranged, and tell him I have decided to accept his offer. I
would go down to-night if it were not so late; for now that I've made up
my mind I should feel pretty bad if meanwhile he happened to meet
someone else who had not so many scruples as myself, and who needed
a job badly enough to accept the opening on the spot, without taking
time to think it over.
"However, I don't think Drake will interview anybody else until he has
had my answer, for he certainly seemed anxious enough to secure my
particular services; so I'll hope for the best and leave things in the
hands of fate. And now, Dick," he went on, passing his hand across his
forehead, "I've had a long tiring day, and have a rather bad headache
into the bargain; so, if you don't mind, I think I'll toddle up to bed and
get to sleep; for I want to be up early in the morning. Good night, old
man!"
"Good night, Murray, my hearty!" replied his friend. "I hope you'll
sleep well, and have pleasant dreams. You ought to, after this piece of

good luck. By the way, when does Drake want you to go aboard?"
"Oh, to be sure;