“Now, my man, be very careful of that trunk,” urged the short, stout, pale man.  “Don’t drop it for the world.”

“I’m not going to, sir,” and the ’longshoreman attempted to touch his hat as a mark of respect.

“Don’t do that!” exclaimed the nervous man.  “You might drop it, and something would break.”

“All right, sir.  Very well, sir,” and once more the ’longshoreman made as if to touch his hat.  It was a habit of his to do this whenever spoken to by those who employed him.

“There you go again!” cried the man in rather whining tones.  “Don’t do it, I say!  There!  Keep your hands on the trunk!”

Seeing that this last order was obeyed, the nervous man advanced up the gangplank.  He came on deck, set his two valises very carefully down, watched the ’longshoreman place the trunk on end, as if it contained eggs, and then he asked of Bob: 

“Is this ship the Eagle?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Are you sure now?  I don’t want any mistake made.  I don’t see the name on it anywhere.”

“It is on the bows and under the stern.”

Bob rather prided himself on this nautical knowledge.

“Hum!  Well, perhaps it may be.  You are positive it is the Eagle?”

“Yes, sir.  Positive.  A distant relative of my mother is the captain.”

“Is it Captain Spark?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Are you sure?  I don’t want to be on the wrong ship.”

“Yes, sir, I am very sure, I came on board with him.  Are you going to sail on the ship?” asked Bob politely.

“I expect to, if this is the right vessel.  I wish I was sure.  Perhaps you might be mistaken,” and he glanced nervously around.

“No, I am positive.  There is Captain Spark now,” he added as the commander came up a companionway.

“Oh, yes.  I shall speak to him.”

The nervous man started off.  Just then Captain Spark, having received his clearance papers by messenger, gave orders to cast off.  The Eagle was about to sail.

“All ashore that’s going ashore!” called the first mate.

The ’longshoreman started down the gangplank which was about to be hauled in.

“Wait, I must pay you!” called the nervous passenger, turning back toward the man who had brought his trunk aboard.

The ’longshoreman waited.

“Cast off that stern line!” shouted the captain.

“Oh, dear!  I wish I was sure this was the Eagle!” spoke the nervous passenger.

“It is,” Bob assured him, smiling at the man’s manner.  First he would advance a little way toward the captain, intending to ask him the momentous question; then he would turn toward the ’longshoreman, who was waiting for his money.

“Lively with that gangplank now!” ordered the commander.

“Oh, if I have made a mistake and gotten on the wrong ship it will be terrible,” murmured the man.