BIRD ISLAND AND SAINT CROIX 1 87 



pen at his desk, nor did he discontinue this opera- 

 tion until some considerable awe of the presence that 

 I had ventured into was instilled into my mind. I 

 told him what I had come for, and when he had hummed 

 and hawed for some minutes he asked me to call again 

 on Tuesday morning, Tuesday morning arrived, and 

 I called again, and asked him if he would give me a 

 pass to go to Bird Island on the following day in the 

 tug. He replied in a cheerful voice, that I was too late. 



" Too late " ? I said. " I thought you told me to 

 call on Tuesday morning " ? 



" At nine o'clock," said the Major in an impressive 

 voice. 



Now I knew that he had not mentioned any time, 

 and was just going to tell him so when I thought 

 better of it and agreed with him, deprecating my own 

 stupidity. I think this rather took the wind out of 

 his sails, for he evidently expected me to argue the 

 case with him, and was preparing to enjoy himself and 

 my discomfiture at the same time. 



" I never allow more than five persons to go," he 

 said, "and five have already applied,'' pointing to a 

 little heap of half-sovereigns that lay on his desk in 

 front of him. 



" Then I shall not be able to go ? " I said. 



The Major pushed away his inkstand and the little 

 pile of half-sovereigns, then laid down his pen and leaned 

 back in his chair, as though to give himself plenty of 

 space in which to alter his decision without loss of 

 dignity. After a pause he said, " You will have to pay 

 ten shillings to the Sailors' Widows and Orphans 

 Fund." 



