Jule started to speak, but Gid lifted a heavy hand for silence.
“Mr. Gold-Lace is coming on board,” he said, “now mind what I’ve been telling you.”
Jule lay still under the blanket he had drawn over his shoulders and chuckled softly to himself.
“Teddy,” he laughed, “Teddy will be taking that fellow by the leg in a minute and then there’ll be doings! Just wait till that officer gets on board,” the boy’s busy brain went on, “and I’ll get that pirate into a boxing match with the bear.”
It was true that Gid had not observed the bear, for Jule had motioned him into a dark corner as soon as the pirate’s hulking figure had shown in the doorway.
Presently Gid arose to his feet and looked out of the glass panel in the cabin door.
“There’s two coming aboard,” he said turning toward the boy.
“Are you going to put me on the reception committee?” asked Jule, with a snicker.
“I don’t see that you’ve got anything to laugh at!” Gid declared.
“Oh, what’s the odds?” Jule demanded. “The Rambler is a mascot, and always was. You can’t do anything to her.”