“Hold on,” said Guy, as the stranger seized his arm and tried to pull him away. “I want to find Flint, and see what he has to say about it.”
“I know where he is, and can find him for you in less than ten minutes,” said the stranger, who had about as clear an idea of Flint’s whereabouts as Guy himself. “All I ask of you is to put down your name. Where’s your dunnage?”
“I left it in there last night,” said Guy, pointing toward the boarding-house.
“Why, the landlord didn’t ship you, did he? That is, he didn’t find a vessel for you?”
“No, I didn’t give him a chance. They had a fight in there, and I ran away.”
“A fight. Oh, that’s nothing. It’s all settled now, I’ll warrant. Come with me. I’ll get your dunnage for you.”
Guy did not hesitate to enter the boarding-house under the protection of the stranger, and indeed he need not have been afraid to go in there alone.
There was but one man in the bar-room, and that was the second mate of the Santa Maria, who was probably on the lookout for a crew for his vessel.
“Morning, Rupert,” said the stranger, as he and Guy entered; “I believe my young friend here left something with you last night.”
“Ah, yes; here it is,” replied the landlord, handing Guy’s bundle over the counter and smiling pleasantly upon the boy. “What made you dig out in such a hurry? Did the fellows scare you?”