Spike seemed embarrassed, though not to a degree to awaken suspicion in his companion.

“I never sold cargo at sea, long as I’ve sailed and owned a craft,” he answered, as if uncertain what to do.  “If you’ll pay the price I expect to get in the Gulf, and will take ten barrels, I do n’t know but we may make a trade on’t.  I shall only ask expected prices.”

“Which will be—?”

“Ten dollars a barrel.  For one hundred silver dollars I will put into your boat ten barrels of the very best brand known in the western country.”

“This is dealing rather more extensively than I anticipated, but we will reflect on it.”

Wallance now indolently arose and ascended to the quarter-deck, followed by Spike, who continued to press the flour on him, as if anxious to make money.  But the lieutenant hesitated about paying a price as high as ten dollars, or to take a quantity as large as ten barrels.

“Our mess is no great matter after all,” he said carelessly.  “Four lieutenants, the purser, two doctors, the master, and a marine officer, and you get us all.  Nine men could never eat ten barrels of flour, my dear Spike, you will see for yourself, with the quantity of excellent bread we carry.  You forget the bread.”

“Not a bit of it, Mr. Wallace, since that is your name.  But such flour as this of mine has not been seen in the Gulf this many a day.  I ought in reason to ask twelve dollars for it, and insist on such a ship as your’n’s taking twenty instead of the ten barrels.”

“I thank you, sir, the ten will more than suffice; unless, indeed, the captain wants some for the cabin.  How is it with your steerage messes, Mr. Archer—­do you want any flour?”

“We draw a little from the ship, according to rule, sir, but we can’t go as many puddings latterly as we could before we touched last at the Havanna,” answered the laughing midshipman.  “There is n’t a fellow among us, sir, that could pay a shore-boat for landing him, should we go in again before the end of another month.  I never knew such a place as Havanna.  They say midshipmen’s money melts there twice as soon as lieutenants’ money.”

“It’s clear, then, you’ll not take any of the ten.  I am afraid after all, Mr. Spike, we cannot trade, unless you will consent to let me have two barrels.  I’ll venture on two at ten dollars, high as the price is.”

“I should n’t forgive myself in six months for making so had a bargain, lieutenant, so we’ll say no more about it if you please.”

“Here is a lady that wishes to say a word to you, Mr. Wallace, before we go back to the ship, if you are at leisure to hear her, or them—­for there are two of them,” put in Archer.

At this moment Mrs. Budd was approaching with a dignified step, while Rose followed timidly a little in the rear.  Wallace was a good deal surprised at this application, and Spike was quite as much provoked.  As for Mulford, he watched the interview from a distance, a great deal more interested in its result than he cared to have known, more especially to his commanding officer.  Its object was to get a passage in the vessel of war.