Twice before had the skipper, whose
habits might, perhaps, be best described as irregular, missed his ship,
and word had gone forth that the third time would be the last. His berth
was a good one, and the mate wanted it in place of his own, which was
wanted by Ted Jones, A. B.
"Two hours more," said the mate anxiously to the men, as they stood
leaning against the side, "and I take the ship out."
"Under two hours'll do it," said Ted, peering over the side and watching
the water as it slowly rose over the mud. "What's got the old man, I
wonder?"
"I don't know, and I don't care," said the mate. "You chaps stand by me
and it'll be good for all of us. Mr. Pearson said distinct the last time
that if the skipper ever missed his ship again it would be his last trip
in her, and he told me afore the old man that I wasn't to wait two
minutes at any time, but to bring her out right away."
"He's an old fool," said Bill Loch, the other hand; "and nobody'll miss
him but the boy, and he's been looking reg'lar worried all the morning.
He looked so worried at dinner time that I give 'im a kick to cheer him
up a bit. Look at him now."
The mate gave a supercilious glance in the direction of the boy, and
then turned away. The boy, who had no idea of courting observation,
stowed himself away behind the windlass; and, taking a letter from his
pocket, perused it for the fourth time.
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