d_ a good crew," growled the skipper.

"Yes. Can you show me where I can get such an one?"

"No. Look-out."

He picked up and put on his cap again, took it off, and looked in the
lining, and then gave his right leg a smart slap.

"Dunno as I don't," he roared. "What do you say to a horange boat?"

"Orange boat?" cried Rodd. "Why, uncle's been thinking of one of
those!"

"Well, why not?" said the captain; "a Saltcomber?"

"Yes," cried Rodd.

"Well-built, fast, plenty of room below for cargo or what not, plenty of
provisions and water, but no guns."

"That's just the sort of vessel I want," cried Uncle Paul. "Do you
think one's to be had over there?"

"Sure on it. See one last week as they was just getting up her standing
rigging."

"What, a new one?" cried Rodd.

"Ay. Fresh launched, and being made ready for sea."

"Capital!" cried Uncle Pad. "Who does she belong to?"

"Ship-builder as yet."

"And what would be her price?"

"Dunno. All depends," grunted the captain. "Most likely as much as the
builder could get; but if a man went with the money in his pocket, or
say in the bank, ready to pay down on the nail, he could get a smart
craft that would do him justice at a fair working price. What do you
say to coming over and having a look at her?"

"Yes. How are we to get there? By coach?"

"Tchah!" ejaculated the skipper. "Who's going in a coach when he can be
run over in one of our luggers? You say the word, and I have got a
friend with a little fore-and-after as only wants him and a hand and
mebbe me to give a pull at a sheet. He'd run you over in no time."

"By all means, then, let's go," said Uncle Paul, to Rodd's great
satisfaction.

"Well, yes," growled the skipper. "But who's a-going with you?"

"My nephew," said Uncle Paul.

"Ah, yes; and I suppose he's a good judge of such a craft, and could
vally her from keel to truck. Don't seem a bad sort of boy, but he
won't do. Nay, squire, you want somebody as you can trust. A'n't you
got an old friend, ship-owner or ship's husband--man who's got his head
screwed on the right way, one you knows as honest and won't take a
hundred pounds from t'other side to sell the ship for them?"

"Well, no; I'm afraid I don't know such a man," said Uncle Paul.

"Have to find one," grunted the skipper. "Won't do to buy a ship with
your eyes shut. Got yourself to think of as well as your money. You
don't want to engage a skipper and a crew