But it wasn't for me to form opinions.

My berth was an easy one--just a sprawl all day long with a pipe in my mouth, and a good night's rest to follow; and that was all it was my duty to think about.
"Well, one afternoon Mr.Robinson comes aboard alone, and says to me, 'Williams, at what hour will the tide serve to-morrow night ?' "'Why, sir,' says I, after thinking, 'there'll be plenty of water at nine o'clock.' "'Then,' says he, 'see all ready, Williams, to get away to-morrow at that hour.

We're off to -- --,' and he names a Mediterranean port.
"Right, sir,' says I, though wondering a bit to myself, for the season was pretty well advanced, and I couldn't have guessed, from what I knew and had heard of him, that he would have pushed so far south.
"Well, at half past eight that evening the deck was hailed by a boat alongside, and up he comes handing a lady on board, thickly veiled, and they both went below as if they were in a hurry.

Some parcels and a bit of a bandbox or so were chucked up to us by the watermen, who then shoved off.

There was a nice little off-shore breeze a-blowing, and soon after nine we were clear of the harbor and sailing quietly along, the sea smooth and the moon rising red out of a smother of mist.