"That's easy enough done, Ephraim," the trader replied, "all except finding the sober and steady decent man to put him under. However, I will do my best. Have you got him here?"
"Yes, he is outside," Ephraim said; and rising, he went to the door and called Frank in. "This is the hand I was speaking to you about, Mr. Willcox."
"Well, young man," the trader said, "I hear you want a berth on board a tug or flat. Which would you rather have?"
"I would prefer to be on a flat,—at any rate for a time, sir," Frank said; "I am a pretty good hand at sailing or rowing, but I don't know anything about steamboats."
"There's not much to learn in that," the trader said; "the work is simply to keep the decks clean, to help to load and unload at each landing-place, and to pole off in shallows. However, I will put you on board a flat. The wages to begin with will be twenty dollars a month and your keep, if that will suit you."
"That will do, sir, very well," Frank said. "When shall I come to work?"
"If you come here this time to-morrow you can go aboard at once. One of the flats will go up the first thing in the morning."
"Thank you, sir, I will be here. I am greatly obliged to you, Mr. Alderson, for your kind recommendation of me."
"I am glad to have put you into a berth," the mate said. "Now I should recommend you to get on board again soon."
Frank strolled about the wharves for an hour or two, and then went on board. Before going on shore the following day, the captain gave him a certificate, saying that he had sailed in the Mississippi, and was a good, willing, and reliable hand.