"Oh!" Young Webster looked hard at Roger and then looked around the deck.
All was ship-shape, but there were many strange faces.
"Oh," he said again. "And you—" He stopped short.
"And I?" Roger repeated.
Again young Webster looked around the ship. He bit his lip. "What is your story, Mr. Hamlin?" he said sharply.
"Is your father here, Mr. Webster?" Roger asked.
"No," the young man replied stiffly, "he is at Newburyport, but I have no doubt whatsoever that he will return at once when he hears you have arrived. This seems to be a strange situation, Mr. Hamlin. Who is in command here?"
"I am, sir."
"Oh!" After a time he added, "I heard rumors, but I refused to credit them."
"What do you mean by that, sir?" Roger asked.
"Oh, nothing much, sir. You evaded my question. What is your story?"