The American captain noticed it, and raised his eyebrows a little.
“Why was it?” he said kindly, as he saw how thoroughly agitated the boy was. “In trouble?”
“Yes, sir,” cried Fitz.
“You don’t mean to tell me you’ve done such a stupid school-boy act as to desert your ship?”
“Oh, no, no, no!” cried Fitz excitedly; and out it all came, the captain listening eagerly and questioning him wherever the boy hesitated, till he had finished his adventurous tale.
“Well, this is something fresh, my lad,” cried the American captain. “But I reckon that the time will come when you’ll think you’ve been in luck. For you’ve done nothing wrong. You were regularly taken prisoner while doing your duty, and your skipper can’t blame you.”
“Think not, sir?” cried Fitz, warming up in the gratitude he felt for the captain’s sympathy.
“Think not? Of course! If he does, and won’t have you back, I’ll find you a berth on my ship, and be glad to have you. What do you say? Will you come?”
Fitz looked at him searchingly, and shook his head.
“I am in the Queen’s service, sir,” he said.