“I suppose Curtis Waring brought me,” said Dodger, beginning to get his bearings.

“There was a gentleman came with you—so the mate told me. I don’t know his name.”

“Where is the ship bound?”

“To San Francisco, around Cape Horn. I supposed you knew that.”

“I never heard of the ship Columbia before, and I never had any idea of making a sea voyage.”

The steward looked surprised.

“I suppose your guardian arranged about that. Didn’t he tell you?”

“I have no guardian.”

“Well, you’ll have to ask Capt. Barnes about that. I know nothing, except that you are a passenger, and that your fare has been paid.”

“My fare paid to San Francisco?” asked Dodger, more and more at sea, both mentally and physically.