How could he
hope to hold his own with them? The first day at sea must reveal his
incompetence. He would be the laughing-stock of the crew.
He was almost nervous when an undersized hairy personage shoved a
grinning face up a companionway, and hailed Stump joyfully. Then the
captain did a thing which went far to prove that true gentility is not
a matter of deportment or mincing phrase.
"Keep mum before this crowd," he muttered. "Stand by, and I'll pull you
through."
Stump extended a gigantic hand to the hairy one. "Glad to see you
again, old Never-fail," he roared. "Let me introjuice our second mate.
Mr. Tagg--Mr. King. An' now, Tagg, wot's for breakfast? Mr. King an'
me can eat a Frenchman if you have nothin' tastier aboard."
Royson was relieved to find that he had practically no duties to
perform until the yacht sailed. She had been coaled and provisioned by
a Marseilles firm of shipping agents, and only awaited telegraphic
orders to get up steam, in case the wind were unfavorable for beating
down the Gulf of Lions, when Mr.
Pages:
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79