"Yes. I've known him before, and sailed with him, always in a wooden ship. He hates an iron-clad, and he must see canvas bellying out aloft if there be a bit of wind at all. He is really an independent man, and wouldn't take a ship at all unless he had all his own way. So every man-jack is a jolly tar of the good old school, and his officers too, are, I have always found, genuine fellows. He must have somebody to dine with him every night, and it is just as often a middie as a ward-room officer. As for myself, I have always a knife and fork laid for me, and if I don't dine with Leeward I look in after dessert, and many a yarn he spins me."
"So different from Flint."
"Oh, yes; but we must never say a word against the absent."
"No."
"Hark!" cried Grant; "didn't I tell you?"
The ship's head was kept away a point or two.
Next minute the bo's'n's shrill pipe was heard. "Eep—eep—peep—peep—ee—ee—ee! All hands make sail!"
Up rattle the watches below, and aloft they went right cheerily.
Creggan had never seen a ship's sails cast loose so speedily, nor so quickly braced up.
"They are indeed good sailors, Dr. Grant."