“Five foot ’leven,” said Jack.
“And how old are you?”
“Seventeen next ’vember,” said Jack.
“Humph!” said the captain.
“Here, how much is it?” said Jack, thrusting his hand in his pocket. “I’ll pay now and ha’ done with it.”
“Pay what?”
“My passage-money.”
“Oh!” said the captain quietly, “I see. Well, I think we’d better settle that by-and-by when you bring in claim for salvage.”
The captain pronounced it “sarvidge,” and Jack stared.
“What savage?” he said. “Do you mean Joe Carstairs’ black fellow?”