“Well, that’s the old man’s lay, and I can’t say as to the why and wherefore.  He’ll probably be along in an hour or two at best, for the tug will be alongside in a few minutes.  We’re cleared, and we’ll get to sea as soon as the bloody crimp gets the bleeding windjammers aboard.  They ought to be along presently.”

“Em-m-m,” said the man, and stroked his chin thoughtfully.  “He’ll be along shortly, will he,—­and you are all ready.  I think I can hear the tug coming now, hey?  Isn’t that it?”

“S’pose so,” answered the mate.

“Well, just let me insinuate to you politely, my boy, that the sooner you clear, the better;” his voice was low and full of meaning, and he leaned toward the mate in a menacing manner; “and if I have to speak to you more than once, my little friend, you will find out the kind of man Captain Thompson is.  Can you rise to that?”

Trunnell shrank from the stranger’s look, for he stuck his face right into the mate’s, and as he finished he raised his voice to its full volume.  The liquor was still in the stout little fellow’s head, and he drew back one of his long arms as if about to strike; then quickly recovering himself, he scratched his head and stepped back a pace.

“How the bleeding thunder could I tell you were Captain Thompson, when you come aboard here and ask for a passage?” he demanded.  “I meant no disrespect.  Not a bit.  No, sir, not a bloody bit.  I’m here for further orders.  Yessir, I’m here for further orders and nothin’ else.  Sing out and I go.”

It was plain that the little bushy-headed fellow was not afraid, for he squared his broad shoulders and stood at attention like a man who has dealt with desperate men and knew how to get along with them.  At the same time he knew his position and was careful not to go too far.  He was evidently disturbed, however, for the little thin silver rings in his ears shook from either nervousness or the effects of liquor.

The tall man looked keenly at him, and appeared to think.  Then he smiled broadly.

“Well, you are a clever little chap, Trunnell,” he said; “but for discernment I don’t think you’d lay a very straight course, hey? isn’t that it?  Not a very straight course.  But with my help I reckon we’ll navigate this ship all right.  Who’s this?” and he turned toward me.

“That’s Mr. Rolling, the second mate.  Didn’t you meet him at the office?  He was there only a couple of hours ago.  Just signed on this evening.”

“Ah, yes, I see.  A new hand, hey?  Well, Mr. Rolling, I suppose you know what’s expected of you.  I don’t interfere with my mates after I get to sea.  Can you locate the ship and reckon her course?”

I told him I could; and although I did not like the unnautical way this stranger had about him, I was glad to hear that he did not interfere with his mates.  If he were some hard skipper the agents had taken at a pinch, it was just as well for him to keep to himself aft, and let his mates stand watch as they should on every high-class ship.  The young man, or rather boy, who had come aboard with him, looked at me curiously with a pair of bright blue eyes, while the captain spoke, and appeared to enjoy the interrogation, for he smiled pleasantly.