, `is it whale or seal?'"

"Tell them--tell them," he said, musing,--"tell them _seal_, and we'll
do a bit of sealing on the voyage; but, my dear Captain Cookson, the
real object of our trip is at present _under_ seal. You understand?"

I nodded.

"Then get a good staunch, picked crew, and don't spare for expense.
You'll want good first and second mates. Shall I engage them?"

"Oh, no, thanky, sir," I said hastily; "I--"

"Captain Cookson here?" said a voice I knew, and Abram Bostock thrust
his head just inside the door. "Oh, beg pardon, sir!"

"Come in, Abram!" I said, eagerly.

"Begging the gentleman's pardon," he said, wiping a little brown juice
out of each corner of his mouth; "I only wanted a word with you,
skipper. Binny Scudds is outside."

"Bring him in, then!" I said, quickly.

Abram looked from one to the other, rubbed his hollow, sallow cheeks,
upon which there was not a particle of hair, and then his body swayed
about as if, being so thin, the draught of the door was blowing
him,--"Bring him in?" he said.

"To be sure!" I exclaimed.

Tall, thin, Abram Bostock stared at my companion for a moment, and then
backed out, to return directly with my old bos'en, Abinadab Scudds, half
leading, half dragging him; and no sooner was the mahogany-faced old
salt inside the door, and caught sight of the stranger, than he slewed
round, and was half outside before Abram growled out, "Avast there!"
collared him, and bringing him back, closed the door; when Scudds
growled out something that seemed to come from somewhere below his
waistband, and then, thoroughly captured, he stood, rolling his one eye
from one to the other, and began to rub his shaggy head, ending by an
old habit of his--namely, taking out a piece of rope, and beginning to
unlay it.

"Begging the gentleman's pardon," said Abram, as he feasted on his
goodly proportions, "I come to tell you, skipper, as they wants a cap'n
and mates for the Gladiator."

"But you have not engaged?" I said, anxiously.

Scudds growled, bear-fashion, and shook his head.

"Because here's a chance for you, my lads!" I said. "I have engaged
with Doctor--Doctor--"

"Curley," said my stout friend.

"With Doctor Curley, to command that smart steamer lying in the
Greenland Dock, and we go up north. Will you come?"

"What arter?" growled Scudds, tearing at his piece of rope.

"Seal," I said, with a look at the doctor. "What do you say, Bostock?"

"Oh, I'