"Well, I dunno." Franchard scratched his head. "I do need somebody most every day for the Minnie. I take out the Ariel, and Bob the Washington, and very often I can't let the Minnie go out—not when they want a skipper for the sloop."
"I would like the job," replied Ralph, promptly.
"Tell you what I'll do, Ralph. I'll give you a dollar and a half a day for your services every day I can use you, and that will be at least four or five days a week, even if it ain't the whole six."
"I'll take the job, and thank you," said the boy, reflecting that even four days' work would bring in six dollars, as much as he had before earned, while a full week's work would mean nine dollars.
"All right. I know I can trust you with the sloop, even if she is kind of mulish at times."
"She needs constant watching, that's all. When can I come on?"
"Most likely Monday morning. There was a man coming to see me about her this morning. If he—here he comes now."
Franchard referred to a well dressed gentleman who was walking toward the dock, accompanied by a young gentleman and a young lady.
The gentleman, whose name was Larkins, entered into conversation with Franchard, and then turned to Ralph.
"Do you think you can sail that sloop all right, my lad?"