“You are no doubt surprised, sir,” he said, “at the lateness of the hour that I have chosen for my visit.”
“You were certainly expected earlier,” was the laconic answer.
“Expected!”
“Ay, expected. Have I not seen you, and your two companions who are in the boat, reconnoitring us half the day, from the wharfs of the town, and even from the old tower on the hill? What did all this curiosity foretel, but an intention to come on board?”
“This is odd, I will acknowledge!” exclaimed Wilder, in some secret alarm. “And, then, you had notice of my intentions?”
“Hark ye, friend,” interrupted the other, indulging in a short, low laugh; “from your outfit and appearance I think I am right in calling you a seaman: Do you imagine that glasses were forgotten in the inventory of this ship? or, do you fancy that we don’t know how to use them?”
“You must have strong reasons for looking so deeply into the movements of strangers on the land.”
“Hum! Perhaps we expect our cargo from the country. But I suppose you have not come so far in the dark to look at our manifest. You would see the Captain?”
“Do I not see him?”
“Where?” demanded the other, with a start that manifested he stood in a salutary awe of his superior.