“Ahoy!” came from somewhere in the interior of the great vessel, and directly after a pleasant, manly, brown face appeared above the steps.
“Take charge; I’m going to have some tea.”
“All right! Who’s this?”
“Skipper’s cub,” said the first-mate shortly. “Here, boy, come along.”
The new arrival gave him a friendly nod, and Mark’s first sensation was that he would have preferred to stay with him, but the first-mate looked back, and he followed quickly into the cabin, where the sight of a comfortable meal, with clean cloth, and an appetising odour, changed the current of his thoughts.
“Engines that work want coal and water,” said the mate gruffly. “We’ve been at work; let’s coal. Sit down.”
Mark obeyed, and Bruff crept under his seat.
“You’ve brought that dog with you, then?”
“He came, sir.”
“Same thing. I hate dogs. Take off that cover.”