"Tell me, Nat--why did you come to St.James ?" He leaned forward over the table, his odd white head almost resting on it, and twiddled his thumbs with wonderful rapidity.

"Eh, Nat ?" he urged.

"Why did you come ?" "Because it was too hot and uninteresting lying out there in a calm, Dad," replied the master of the _Typhoon_.

"We've been roasting for thirty-six hours without a breath to fill our sails.

I came over to see what you people are like.