“Have they all gone ashore?” asked Mr. Jackson.
“All but a few,” replied the Chairman, and he blew his whistle.
“Dick,” said he, turning to the messenger, who had just run up in answer to the signal, “find out how many boys are left on board.”
In a few minutes Dick returned and gave the result of his search.
“There are five, sir: the Chief ‘B. M.’, reading a book in the jib netting, sir; two forward, scrubbing sails for extra duty; Tom Sheffield and the new boy,—Brown, sir, I think is his name.”
“That makes six, counting you,” said the Chairman.
“Yes, sir, I’m on duty as messenger until the liberty party returns.”
“That’s well! Now go and ask Brown to come up and speak to me.”
Billy clambered up the berth deck ladder, and, as he stood at salute before the Chairman and Mr. Jackson, the latter thought he already saw a change for the better in his bearing.
“Sit down, Brown. This is a slack time, and I thought perhaps you’d like to have a little visit with your uncle.”