"He wanted me to let him go as a passenger on de boat."
"Ha!" said Bob, a sudden light breaking in upon him. "And you agreed to take him?"
"Ye-es, Massa Bob."
"Where is he now?"
It was not Clip that answered this question. There was heard a noise from the corner as of some one moving about, and from his sheltered place of refuge, the mysterious passenger stepped forth. He coolly took out his silk handkerchief and dusted his coat and vest.
"Really," he said, "I can't say much for your accommodations for passengers. Have you got such a thing as a clothes-brush on board this craft?"
Bob stared at him in amazement, and could not find a word to say for the space of a minute.
"Who are you, sir?" he asked, at length.
"Who am I? Well, you may call me John Smith, for want of a better name."
"When did you come on board?"