"What!"
"A press-gang. But of that, Lamont, here, can tell you better than I."
And Arnold, in his precise, subtly foreign way, told all that had happened.
Completely stunned, my poor uncle went to the rail and buried his face in his hands.
As for Matterson, he shook hands with Captain North and nodded at the rest of us impartially.
"I'm glad to see you back, sir," he said. "As you know, without doubt, I've shipped as chief mate."
"You've what?" Captain North thundered, looking up at the big man before him.
"Shipped as chief mate, sir."
"Is this true?" the captain demanded, turning on Uncle Seth.
"It is," my uncle replied like a man just waking. "Mr. Gleazen and I talked it over—"