"Well, will you come into the cabin, and take something?"
"No, thank you, Joe."
"Have they got the news about the declaration of war yet, Mister Repton?"
"No, it hasn't arrived yet."
"I expect we shall get some good pickings along the coast, directly it comes. We have been trading regularly, this last year; and we all of us want the chance of earning a bit of prize money. So I can tell you, we were very glad when we heard that we were going to take to that again, for a bit."
"Yes, the captain was telling me about it, and he has asked me to go for a trip with you."
"Well, I hope that you will be able to come, Mister Repton."
"I hope so, Joe. But there is one thing--if I do come, you must call me Bob. I hate being called Mister Repton."
"Well, it would be different if you come with us like that," the young mate said. "You see, you were a passenger, before; but if you came like this, you will be here as a friend, like. So it will come natural to call you Bob.
"And how do you like the place?"