Mr. McGowan gave the fire another vigorous poke before continuing. The Captain slid to the edge of his chair, holding on to the sides.
“Do you know of all the movements of Mr. Fox after he left here?” came the disappointing question from near the fireplace.
“No, I don’t. But you was speaking of the case from Sydney, Mack. Who was the feller whose name hit Jim so hard?”
“Was Mr. Fox a sailor?”
“Lordie!” ejaculated the Captain. “Jim Fox a sailor? Why, he couldn’t sail a tub in a flooded cellar.”
“You mean he never crossed the ocean as a trader?”
“He done that, I cal’late, but as far as him being a sailor–––” He sniffed a contemptuous conclusion.
“How many years ago was it that he followed the seas?”
“I ain’t able to say, exactly, but it wa’n’t long after Adoniah left home.”