“Then you take a great interest in exploration?” said Brace.
“Interest? I should think I do, sir. I’m a regular Columbus, Marco Polo, and Captain Cook rolled up into one. Only just wish I’d a dozen smart chaps instead of only one. I’d go off in a boat, capture that brig, and sail right away.”
“To be followed, caught, and put in prison for piracy,” said Brace, smiling contemptuously.
“Eh?” said the American. “Yes, I suppose that’s about the size of it.”
“Ship ahoy, there! What cheer, oh? Morning, sir,” came from the brig, and Captain Banes, who had just come on deck, took off his hat and waved it, but stopped suddenly as he made out who was Brace Leigh’s companion.
“Morning, skipper!” cried the latter.
“Morning, sir, morning,” shouted the captain gruffly, and then, turning sharply round, he began to give orders to the crew, which were immediately followed by sounds of holystone upon the already white boards, and splashing of water as buckets came over the side and were hauled up again.
“Don’t seem as if he’s going to ask us aboard,” said the American.
“No,” replied Brace, smiling. “Which way are you going, sir, because I am going to stroll along by those sugar-warehouses and back to the hotel on the other side.”
“That’s just my way; so I’ll walk with you. Ah, here’s the sun. Going to be another stinging hot day.”