resembled that of a disturbed rat. At last he fell on Salvé's neck in
his impetuous way, and broke out--

"But at any rate we must have one parting glass together this evening. I
don't know how I shall ever do without you--it is so long now since we
two have chummed together."

Against his better reason Salvé allowed himself to feel a little
softened at the thought; and the remembrance of all the attachment this
scoundrel had shown for him aroused something that almost resembled
emotion.

"It is no use, my friend," he replied; "what is done can't be undone.
But I'll give you this evening, at all events. You'll find me waiting
for you in the Aurora."

As usual at this season of the year, there were a great many vessels in
the harbour, and the Aurora tavern was full that evening of seafaring
folk laughing and talking and singing, and renewing, or laying the
foundations of, acquaintanceships over brandy or gin; while in the
little room over the bar, dance music was going on uninterruptedly, and
the boards were creaking under alternate Dutch schottische and English
hornpipe.

To properly appreciate a genuine sailors' reel or hornpipe, one should
see it danced by men who for a whole year at a time have been battling
with the waves and storms in every corner of the world, and who during
all that time have hardly set eyes upon a female form. They come on
shore bursting with a full masculine longing for the society of the
other sex, with a year's stored-up feeling to let out; and there is a