Jimmie’s spirits revived as food was set before them. In a moment he was laughing and chatting away without a care in the world. His good humor was infectious. Soon all four boys were in a merry mood.
“I wish we could get a civilized paper,” declared Jack at length. “I’d really like to see what’s going on in the world.”
“Maybe we can get one at the desk. Or possibly the cashier can tell us where they will have English papers for sale,” suggested Harry.
“Here comes a man who looks as if he were a native,” spoke up Jimmie. “I’ll bet he can tell us a whole lot of things we want to know!”
The boys glanced up to observe a man approaching their table. He was evidently a seafaring man. His dress and manner betokened the deep sea mariner. A decided air of the ocean marked him to the boys’ eyes.
“Goot efening, Chentlemen!” the stranger said as he approached.
“Howdy!” replied Jimmie, with a wave of his hand. “What’ll you have?”
“Vell,” replied the visitor, “schnapps vas goot, but you couldn’t get ’em here. Dis isn’t no blace for dot! No, sir!”
“I wasn’t inviting you to have a drink,” snapped Jimmie somewhat confusedly, “I meant to ask you what’s on your mind.”
“So-o-o-o!” exclaimed the newcomer with a long drawn expression of surprise. His shaggy eyebrows raised as he extended his chin and shrugged his shoulders, pantomiming an apology. “So, dot’s it, eh?”