"How do you know I do smoke 'em?"
"Oh, I've got a good nose for tobacco," replied his uncle. "I'm warning you; that's all. I don't like this Nat Morton any more than you do, and I'm glad he is going."
The mate did not say why, but it was because he had hidden away a certain wallet, with a name erased from it, and this wallet he did not want Nat to see.
Owing to the fight between Nat and Sam, it was not until noon that Mr. Weatherby and our hero were able to leave the Jessie Drew. By that time Nat's clothes were dry, and then, without Sam looking on, for he was below in his bunk, the pilot and the lad whom he had befriended went ashore.
"We'll go to the Imperial Hotel," spoke Mr. Weatherby. "That's where I usually put up, when I'm here, and we'll wait there until the Mermaid docks."
"Is that the name of the ship we are going on?" asked Nat.
"That's her. She's a fine steamer, and Captain Turton is a fine man. I shall like to work for him, and I believe you will too."
"Maybe he doesn't want me," suggested Nat, for he had been thinking of that contingency.
"Oh, I've arranged all that. But I wonder if George Clayton will be here?"
"Where did you expect to meet him?"