CHAPTER XIII
A Green Hand
While the meeting of the Triangle Club was going on at the Grays’ farm, Mr. Wentworth went ashore with the yeoman,—Bob Brackett—to meet a new boy who was to join the ship that afternoon.
As soon as they had arrived at the landing, however, they were approached by a tall, elderly man who looked as if he had come from the country, and had rather a small boy at his side in the Land Scout uniform.
“My name is Jackson,” said he, addressing Mr. Wentworth, “and I have brought my nephew, William Brown, for whom, I understand, a berth has been reserved on the Bright Wing.”
“Yes, sir,” replied Mr. Wentworth cordially, “and I am very much obliged to you for being on hand so promptly, for you have saved me the trouble of looking you up at the hotel.”
After shaking hands, Mr. Wentworth turned to Brown with a friendly nod, and then, facing Bob, he said:
“This boy with the mail bag, Brown, is our yeoman, and we shall have to wait until he has been to the post office, before returning to the ship. Do you think, Mr. Jackson, that your nephew would like to go to the post office with the yeoman? It might be pleasant for him to make friends with one of the crew before he goes aboard.”
Mr. Jackson assented, and Billy Brown saluted awkwardly by throwing his arm out on one side and then bringing it up to the back of his head. “He’s a queer duck,” thought Bob, but his meditations were interrupted by Mr. Wentworth.
“You can go now, Yeoman, and be as quick as you can. Remember you are on duty, and you have no other errand but to post the outgoing and to fetch the incoming mail.”
Mr. Wentworth spoke with decision; but his tone was so friendly that any boy would have felt inclined to obey him.