The old sailor did the talking, trying to make his long story as short as possible, and while he was speaking Bob made a thorough examination of the vessel. There was something about her that looked familiar; and after he run his eyes over her from truck to water-line, he told himself that if he had not seen that ship in the harbor of Clifton more than once, he had seen one there that looked exactly like her. Old Ben himself certainly discovered something about her to attract his attention, for he suddenly began to stammer and hesitate, and it was only by a great effort of will that he was able to go on with his story. He did not look at the man to whom he was talking, but kept his eyes fastened upon the after-part of the vessel. Bob looked in the same direction, and saw that a bull's-eye, which probably opened into one of the cabin state-rooms, was unclosed, and that a face was pressed close to it—a pale, handsome face, with thick gray whiskers and moustache, and a pair of large black eyes which seemed to be looking straight through him. If it was the same face he had probably known in the days gone by, how changed it was! He rubbed his eyes and looked again, but the face had disappeared.
"Ben!" he cried, in great excitement.
"Avast, there!" replied the old sailor. "The cap'n's going to speak."
"I've got all the crew I want," said the captain, "but if you have a mind to come aboard and behave yourselves you can work your passage to Singapore."
"We'll do our duty the best we know how, sir," said Ben.
"All right, come aboard, then; but bear in mind that I am a sailor all over and a hard man to suit."
"Ben," repeated our hero, as the boat was pulled under the fore-chains, "Ben, I saw—"
"Avast, there, will you! What's the good of so much chin-music?" exclaimed the sailor.
"But can't I speak?" demanded Bob, greatly surprised and excited. "Ben, I tell you, I saw—"
"You saw nothing. Belay your jaw."