230 THE CAPTAIN. 



" ' We did not intend to hurt the men, but we 

 did mean to hold them until the police came. 



" ' I had my man down and was holding him 

 with both hands when he reached up and grabbed 

 my long whiskers. He had me then completely 

 at his mercy. I could not release myself. 



" < The clerk ran out of the office to relieve me, 

 and in trying to strike down the hands of the man 

 beneath me he gave me a severe blow over my 

 eye with an ebony ruler. It was so sore I had 

 to stay in my room for several days. 



" ' The sailors were arrested and fined three 

 pounds each. Their captain paid their fine and 

 the police put them on board their ship. 



" ' We found out afterwards that they came on 

 shore with the intention of making a ' row ' and 

 getting shut up, hoping their captain would go 

 without them ; but you see their plan did not 

 succeed.' " 



It was during the war of 1863 that the Captain 

 was at St. Helena, and he was one day on shore 

 dining at the hotel. There were a number of 

 ladies and gentlemen in the party. Several of 

 the latter were captains of American ships that 

 lay in port. 



The Captain said : 



" A large English ship had just anchored in the 

 harbor, and her Captain came ashore to take dinner. 



