Page:Ballantyne--The Battery and the Boiler.djvu/323

 in the identical captain who had stopped Stumps on the street that day.

"Excuse me, young man," he said, taking a chair without invitation, "I saw you enter this hotel, and followed you."

"Well, and what business had you to follow me?" demanded Stumps, feeling uneasy.

"Oh, none—none at all, on'y I find I must sail this afternoon, an' I 've took a fancy to you, an' hope you 've made up your mind to ship with me."

Stumps hesitated a moment.

"Well, yes, I have," he said, with sudden resolution. "When must I be on board?"

"At four, sharp," said the captain, rising. "I like promptitude. All right. Don't fail me."

"I won't," said Stumps, with emphasis.

When the captain was gone. Stumps went nervously to the door and peeped out. Nothing was visible, save the tail of a waiter's retiring coat. Cautiously shutting and bolting the door, he took up a strong walking-cane, and, after some difficulty, forced the lock of the portmanteau therewith. Abstracting from it the two bags containing the treasures of his mates Robin and Sam, he wrapped them in a handkerchief, and put them into a canvas bag, which he had purchased for the reception of his own wardrobe. Taking this under his arm he went quietly out of the hotel into the street and disappeared.