Page:Cup of Gold-1929.djvu/63

“Oh, it’s a grand ship—a fine ship,” cried Henry, wonder-struck.

Tim was proud. “But only come aboard of her, and see the fittings—all new. I'll be talking with the master about you.”

Henry stood in the waist while the big seaman walked aft and pulled his cap before a lean skeleton of a man in a worn uniform.

“I have a boy,” he said, though Henry could not hear; “a boy that’s set his heart in the Indies, and I'm thinking you might be liking to take him, sir.”

The hungry master scowled at him.

“Is he a strong boy who might be some good in the islands, Bo’s’n? So many of them die within the month, and there you have trouble the next trip.”

“He is there, behind me, sir. You can see him yourself, standing there-—and very well made and close knit he is, too.”

The hungry master appraised Henry, running his eyes from the sturdy legs to the full chest. His approval grew.

“He is a strong boy, all right; and good work for you, Tim. You shall have drink money of it and a little extra ration of rum at sea. But does he know anything about the arrangement?”

“Never a bit.”

“Well, then, don’t tell him. Put him to working in the galley. He'll think he’s working out his passage. No use of caterwauling and disturbing the men off watch. Let him find out when he gets