"I'm blowed! Then you've met—Them."
"I've seen them. Apparently that's about all you've done."
"You mean, if I won't get you on board as skipper you'll give me away?"
I was silent. I did not now mean anything of the kind, for it would be impossible to betray the engaging wretch. But I was willing that he should think my silence gave consent.
"They would know you weren't a common hired skipper. How could I explain you?"
"Why, say you've a Dutch friend who has—kindly offered to go, as you can't find any one else who's competent for the job. You'd better not mention your friend's name at first, if you can avoid it. As the ladies have been anxious about the skipper, and asked van Buren to get one, they'll probably be thankful it's all right, and only too glad to accept a friend of yours in the place."
"Poor, deceived angels! What's to prevent your snatching one of them from under my very nose?"
"You must run the risk of that. Besides, you needn't worry about it till you make up your mind which angel you want."
"I should naturally want whichever one you did. We are made like that."
"If you don't agree, and they go 'botoring' without you, you can't get either."