84 STRANGE SALUTATION. 



was a question I again and again asked myself, and 

 determined to unravel in the morning by propiti- 

 ating the stewardess. 



' Not feeling inclined to sleep, I sauntered back- 

 wards and forwards, and at length stood by the 

 stern-davits, watching the snow-white track of our 

 wake, wondering what the fish thought of ships 

 in general, and how many of them got bumped in 

 the ribs by our stem, when a hand was laid 

 on my shoulder. The owner of it was the last 

 arrival. 



' " Old fellow, it 's me ! Don't say a word. I saw 

 you knew me when I came on board/' he said, in 

 an audible whisper. " I didn't want you or any 

 one else to recognise me ; so mum 's the word. 

 You were once my friend prove that you are so 

 still, by not taking notice of me. Good night. I 

 can trust you, I guess." And before I had time 

 to speak almost to realise what had taken place 

 he had disappeared; and but for the noise of 

 his boots descending the companion-ladder, I should 

 almost have believed it all a dream. 



' " Strange !" I murmured to myself. " What can 

 this mystery mean?" I was certain it was he; 

 but how, I asked myself, has he come here, and 

 for what purpose ? It cannot be more than a year 

 since I left him in the Atlantic States. 



' To go back to that time, I was then living in 

 the State of Missouri. The Southern struggle was 

 drawing to a close, and politicians were quarrelling, 



