The Two Supercargoes | Page 6

not appear to remark him, leaned forward and gazed at his brother,
whose manner seemed to irritate him.
"Where in the world have you come from, Roderick?" asked Mr
Trunnion.

"From Falmouth last, where I left the `Vulture' to refit. We met with a
somewhat heavy gale, in which she was fearfully knocked about, and
had we not kept the pumps going she would have foundered to a
certainty. As I wanted to see you and other friends; I took horse and
rode night and day to get here. The business I have got to speak of
brooks of no delay, and is such as you and I can talk about best alone."
Turning round as he spoke, he cast a glance at Mr Magor. For a
moment, it seemed to me that his eye appeared to quail, but he quickly
recovered himself.
"Have you finished your business here?" he asked in a bold tone,
looking at the mate. "If so, you will leave me and your employer
alone--for I presume that you are the master of one of his vessels. And
that youngster--you do not wish him to take down our conversation, I
suppose," he added, first looking at me then round at his brother.
"Really, Roderick, you have been so accustomed to command, that you
forget that you are not on your own quarter-deck," observed Mr
Trunnion, who was evidently annoyed at the authoritative tone assumed
by his brother.
The mate rose and looked first at Mr Trunnion then at Captain
Roderick.
"I have met that man before," he said, "and it is my duty to tell you
when and how it was. It was not long ago, on the high seas, when he
boarded the `Arrow' at the head of--"
Mr Trunnion, as the mate spoke, looked very much agitated, and I
naturally fancied that something extraordinary was about to be said.
Captain Roderick alone appeared perfectly cool. Fixing his glance on
the mate, he exclaimed in a loud tone, interrupting him--
"You, my good fellow, may have met me half-a-dozen times for what I
know to the contrary, or half-a-dozen men whom you may mistake for
me, although I cannot say that I ever set eyes on you before. However,
go on and tell Mr Trunnion what I did when you fancy that you saw me,

and I shall then know whether you are mistaken as to my identity."
The mate looked greatly confused.
"I can only hope that I am mistaken, and unless Mr Trunnion desires
me, I shall decline at present stating where, as I believe, I last saw you."
Mr Trunnion was silent for a minute, and seemed lost in thought.
Suddenly looking up he said--
"You have been suffering from fever, Mr Magor, and your recollection
of events, very naturally, is somewhat clouded. A few weeks' quiet and
rest will restore your health. I would advise you not to repeat what you
have just said. I'll send on board and relieve you of charge of the brig as
soon as possible, and you can go to your friends in the country."
Mr Magor, making a nautical bow to Mr Trunnion, and giving another
glance towards Captain Roderick, left the room.
"Westerton," continued my employer, turning to me, "you have heard
all that has been said, and if it were repeated, although the poor man is
under an hallucination, it might be the cause of disagreeable reports.
You are discreet, I can trust you. Let not a word on the subject escape
your lips. You can now go and finish those letters at your own desk."
I did as I was ordered, and gathering up the papers, followed the mate
out of the room, leaving the two brothers together. What followed, I of
course cannot say. For an hour or more they were closeted together. At
last Captain Roderick came out, and returned to the inn where he had
put up his horse. All I know is, that Mr Trunnion did not invite him to
his house. It seemed to me suspicious, and I could not help thinking
about the matter, and wished that I could have consulted Harry
Bracewell. Two evenings afterwards we went to a party at the house of
Mr Crank. Shortly after we arrived, who should walk in but Captain
Roderick. By the way Mr Crank and Lucy received him, I felt
convinced that Mr Trunnion had said nothing to prejudice the senior
partner against him. He made himself at home as usual, treating Miss
Lucy with great deference, and it seemed to me that he was gaining

ground in her good graces.
His appearance was greatly improved since the day I had seen him in
the counting-house. His face was carefully shaved, and his dress was
such as to set off