Frank, somewhat surprised at his enthusiasm, looked at him a moment, and inquired: “Whom do you mean by ‘us?’”
“Oh, a party of our fellows, who may be up there to see you before you leave. Go on. What next?”
“The captain intends to take Mr. Wilbur and his family out for a short excursion,” replied Frank. “We shall be gone three or four days; and if the weather is fair, we may not be back for a week. When we return we shall be ready to start for Natal.”
“All right,” exclaimed the clerk. “Things couldn’t be arranged to suit me better. I suppose you will have all your stores and everything else aboard before you leave the harbor?”
“I suppose so.”
“By the way, who is paymaster of your craft?”
“Walter Gaylord keeps the books and the key of the safe,” answered Frank.
“And you act as sailing master, I think you told me?”
Frank replied that he did.
“You must understand seamanship and navigation, then,” continued Fowler.