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Rh ply, but his natural quick-wittedness came to his rescue.

"Is the captain aboard?" he questioned.

"I think not," was the reply. "I'll go and see."

The deck hand ran into the cabin. Of course he found no one there, and he came back and said the captain had gone out and had not yet returned.

"Anything I can do for you?" put in the second man. "I was left in charge."

"I wanted to see if he didn't want help."

"What, to load up?"

"Yes, and on the trip, too."

"I guess not," said the sailor, and then he looked Franklin over. "You're a green one, ain't you?"

"Yes. But I can learn fast."

"Learn to get sick most likely, if we have a storm!" laughed the sailor, and his companion joined in.

"Well, maybe I could do that, too," said Franklin, joining in the laugh good naturedly. "But if I do I won't charge for it."

This made the sailors laugh more, and soon the three were on good terms all around.

"Captain Cosgrove does want another man," said he who had been left in charge of the freight boat. "Sam Point, who was on the last trip, left as soon as we reached Chicago. He was a kind of an all-round helper."

"That would just suit me—anything where I