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 years. He used to run clippers, chiefly in the North Pacific trade."

"Hallard, Hallard," said the captain, rubbing his chin reflectively. "I seem to remember the name somehow. It's a long time since I traded out of America to China, but the name seems familiar. What is his given name?"

"Andrew."

Suddenly the captain glanced at the boy with a gleam of amusement in his eyes.

"Did you ever hear him speak of a clipper called the Bessie M. Dobbs?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," said Dave. "That was the boat that he made a record run in."

"Bless my soul!" exclaimed Captain Phelps. "Why, I was in 'Frisco when the Bessie M. Dobbs shot through the Golden Gate on her thirty-fifth day out of Hong Kong."

"Thirty-third day, sir," said Dave, never likely to be inaccurate about that little bit of family history.