DARING PILOT. 287 



a half-ruffian sort of fellow, who was always 

 either fast asleep or mad from the effects of 

 opium, to the use of which the inflammation in 

 his eyes at once indicated he was addicted. A 

 pleasant prospect for the young pilot ! If by 

 any mishap the vessel should run aground (and 



what event more probable in G 's ignorance 



of the responsible duty he had so lightly and 

 heedlessly undertaken !), he was quite sure the 

 first act of the enraged Moslem would be to 

 shoot him through the head. Willingly would 

 he have abandoned all his prospects in life to be 

 able to recede from his engagement, and to find 

 himself safe out of the clutches of the blustering 

 captain. Deeply and sincerely did he curse his 

 absurd folly in jeopardizing his neck in so wild an 

 attempt to better his apparently desperate con- 

 dition. But, having engaged himself, he had no 

 time to consider. The vessel was under weigh, 

 and running out of the Bosphorus with, a leading 

 wind, before he had time to repent and demand a 



release from his bargain. G— was fairly in a 



scrape, and get out of it he could not. He felt cer- 

 tain that he should be shot through the head, yet 

 determined to do his best, and trust in Providence. 



