erfectly free
to leave the schooner whenever I please, and am to live in the cabin,
receive cabin rations, and obtain, free of cost, an entirely new outfit
of clothes from the slop chest. What do you think of my bargain?"

"I consider it a very fair one," said I, "with perhaps a slight
advantage in favour of the skipper. For although of course he could
doubtless do perfectly well without you, your grub and a new rig-out
will not cost him very much; and in return for that he will get--as long
as you choose to remain with us--the ability to sleep in all night with
a perfectly easy mind: for I can assure the captain," and I here turned
to that individual, who was standing by, intently listening to all that
was said, "that although you are not a professional seaman you are quite
sailor enough to take care of this schooner during your watch. Also you
are a man of intellect and education, well-read, musical, and with an
inexhaustible fund of intensely interesting conversation, so that I
think Captain Brown will find in you a very agreeable companion."

"Ay, ay, you've just hit it, Temple," cut in the skipper. "That's just
what I thought when I was listenin' to you two fellers talkin' at
breakfast-time. Says I to myself: `Now, here's two chaps with the
speech and manners of gentlefolks, chaps as can hold their own with
anybody when it comes to talkin', and yet they're sailors too--at least
one of 'em is; and if you, Eph Brown, what have never had no more
eddication than what you could pick up, could only persuade them two to
jine yer in this here v'yage, you'd have such a chance as you've never
had before to learn gentlefolks' manners, to talk proper, and ginerally
to comport yourself in such a fashion as'd make your dear old Marthy fit
to bust herself with pride to see and hear ye when ye get back home
again, 'specially as you hopes to strike it rich this trip.' So there
you are, gents: you can call me Cap'n as often as you likes--it sounds
good, and makes me feel as though I was some punkins--but otherwise I'd
like you to talk to me and behave to me just as if we was all eq'als;
and whenever you hear me makin' a bad slip up in the matter of language,
I'll take it very kindly of ye if you'll just pull me up with a round
turn and p'int out where I've gone wrong."

It was rather an amusing proposal, certainly, for a shipmaster to make
to his officers, but the old fellow was so transparently frank in
recognising his shor