DARING PILOT. 291 



into the opposite extreme. In an instant he 

 could not sufficiently express his thanks and obh- 

 gations to one whom he now thought a clever 

 and experienced pilot, and overloaded with praise 

 and presents the man whom a few seconds before 

 he was nearly shooting through the head. 



G 's fortune was made. On his return to 



Constantinople, he found his reputation as a pilot 

 firmly established, the Turk did nothing but praise 

 his skill and recommend him to other captains of 

 merchant vessels, and, almost in spite of him- 

 self, G became well known, and w^as never 



in want of employment. 



** There is a tide in the affairs of men, 

 Which, taken at the flood, &c." 



This was G 's flood-tide, and had he given 



way to despair when nearly starving at Con- 

 stantinople, and had his courage failed him 

 when threatened by the Turk, he would not at 

 this moment hold the situation he now does, nor 

 be able to amuse the passengers on board his 

 steam-vessel, by relating in his own original 

 manner this heedless and desperate act of his 

 youth. 



o2 



