there'd be plenty of us for all the work
we'd have to do. But just when we was startin'--we was actually castin'
off the warps at the time--a letter was handed to me that, bein' busy
just then, I put into my pocket and forgot all about until a couple of
days a'terwards, when we'd cleared Cape Henry and was fairly out to sea.
Then, while I was goin' through my pockets, huntin' for something else,
I comes across this here letter, and opened it. And I tell you, Mister,
that there was news in it that made me sit up and feel mighty anxious
all of a sudden to get away round to the Pacific as quick as possible.
And it made me feel, too, that I wisht I had three or four more men
along. So if your chaps are willin' to sign on with me I'll be glad to
have 'em. Pay--well, they're good men, you tell me--say, twenty a
month."

I glanced forward and saw that all three of the men were on deck,
smoking, and chatting with the two hands who, with the man at the wheel,
constituted the watch.

"They are on deck, I see," said I. "If you like I will mention your
proposal to them, and see how they take it."

"I'll take it very kindly if you will, Mister," answered the skipper;
and without more ado I beckoned them to join me in the waist, where I
laid the skipper's offer before them, while the Old Man himself and
Cunningham remained chatting animatedly together close by the companion,
where much of the foregoing conversation had taken place upon our
adjournment from the breakfast table.

I soon found that, with the careless, happy-go-lucky temperament of the
British merchant sailor, all three men were perfectly willing to ship
for the voyage--about which they had already heard something from the
forecastle hands with whom they had been fraternising--especially when I
told them that I had been offered the position of mate and felt strongly
disposed to accept it; and accordingly I led them aft there and then,
and informed the skipper that we all accepted his offer, and without
further ado we went below and signed articles.

When, after signing, we all returned to the deck, and the three English
seamen had gone forward, Cunningham came up to me and said, laughingly:

"You will be interested to learn, Temple, that our worthy friend here,
Captain Brown, has also offered me a post, which I have accepted. As
nearly as I can define it, the position is that of honorary second mate;
it carries with it no pay, but in lieu of that I am to be p