Page:Under Dewey at Manila.djvu/86

64 group, having come aboard to see that proper care was taken of a box of books he desired shipped.

"Captain Ponsberry, this young man would like to ship with you, and I promised to say a good word in his favor. If you—"

"No use to say more, parson," was the good-natured interruption. "All seem to be in favor of it, and the lad can go if he's set on it. But, Russell, remember what I told you about its being a rough trip, and remember, too, you ship as a regular foremast hand, working as they work and living as they live."

"I understand it all, sir," answered Larry, with a happy smile, which was increased when he beheld a good-natured twinkle in Captain Ponsberry's eye. He knew he was making no mistake, and that the captain would prove as good a man to sail under as there was to be found. "I'll do my level best, and you won't find me skulking when I'm wanted."

"If I do, I'll rope-end you," was the answer, but the threat only made Striker and Hobson laugh. "I never seen the old man with a rope-end yet," whispered the Yankee into Larry's ear.

So it was all settled, and that noon Larry signed articles to sail under Captain Ponsberry in an