“What do you want of the captain?” asked the man in a surly voice.
“We want to talk with him,” replied Ned. “We’ll explain to him.”
“He’s busy now and don’t want to be disturbed. Tell me what you want and I’ll give him your message. Maybe he’ll see you!”
“We want to arrange passage on your ship to the United States.”
“I’ll see what he’s got to say,” replied the man, moving away.
While he was gone the boys examined the vessel closely. Jimmie pronounced the vessel very much to his liking. He admired the lines and pointed with pride to the modeling of the stern.
“Hello!” the boy cried excitedly, his arm extended still in the act of indicating the ship, “there goes our friend Mackinder in a launch!”
“Where?” asked Ned eagerly, turning about in his seat.
“Right astern of us!” replied Jimmie. “I wonder what he was doing aboard this ship. He seems to be in a hurry to get ashore.”