“Oh, come, I like that!” said the American, laughing. “Didn’t I come and sit by you and smoke and see it all done?”
“No!” cried the second mate angrily.
“Well, you Englishmen can tell crackers when you like. What about that big cask with the holes in?”
“That cask? Was that yours?”
“Of course it was, and all the rest of the things on that truck,” said the American coolly. “You don’t suppose I should have come and sat there to see anybody else’s tackle taken on board, do you?”
“Well,” broke in Brace, laughing, “judging by what I’ve seen of you, sir, I should say you would.”
The American turned upon him in the midst of the laugh which arose, and said smilingly:
“All right, sir, have your joke; but when I ask questions or hang around to see what’s going on I do it for a reason. I wanted to go on this voyage in this ship, sir: that’s why I was so inquisitive; and here I am.”
“Yes,” said the captain hotly, “for the present. And so you tricked my second officer and men into bringing your baggage on board, did you?”
“Schemed it, skipper, schemed it,” said the American coolly.