"  Port  your  helm !  "  commanded  the  pilot  calmly.
"  Slow  ahead !  "  Old  Captain  Price  rang  for  him  and
they  began  to  draw  out.  Ashore  the  wedding  guests
were  a  flutter  of  waving  handkerchiefs  and  hats.
They  thanked  God  Minnie  was  not  on  the  bridge.
At  the  rail,  Arthur  lolled  stupidly  and  seemed  to  be
fighting  down  a  nausea.
"  Steady !  "   came   the   sure   voice   of   the   pilot.
"  Steady  as  you  go  !     Stop  her  !  "

Arthur  Price  slipped  then  and  came  to  his  knees.
Ashore,  the  party  was  cheering.
"  Up  with  you,  Arthur,"  cried  the  old  man  in  an
agony.  "  Them  people's  looking.  Stiffen  up,  my  boy."


THE  CAPTAIN'S  ARM  303

"  Half  speed  ahead !  "  droned  the  pilot,  never  turn-
ing his  head.
The  old  man  rattled  the  handle  over  and  stooped
to  his  son.
"  You  can  lie  down  when  you  turn  her  over  to  the
mate,"  he  said  grimly.  "  Till  then  you'll  stand  up
and  show  yourself,  if  your  feet  perish  under  you.  I'll
hold  you."

They  were  drawing  round  a  tier  of  big  vessels,
going  cautiously,  not  with  the  speed  and  knife-edge
accuracy  with  which  the  old  man  had  been  wont  to
take  her  out,  but  groping  safely  through  the  craft
about  them .  Arthur  swayed  and  smiled  and  slackened,
his  head  nodding  as  though  in  response  to  the  friends
on  the  dock  who  never  abated  their  farewell  clamour.
The  grip  on  his  arm  held  him  up,  for  he  had  weakened
on  his  drink,  as  excitable  men  will.
