The mate smiled, and as it was such a joke as the captain could appreciate, he smiled too.
"Very well, Mr. Randall; if such are your views I have no objection to his coming on board."
"I had fears," continued the mate, "that his unruly temper would interfere with his usefulness at home. I felt pretty sure we could soon cure him of that."
"Kill or cure, that is my motto," said the captain.
"Sometimes both," thought Randall, remembering one boy in a previous voyage who had languished and died under the cruel treatment he experienced on board.
"Does the boy know he is to go with us?" inquired the captain.
"Bless you, no; not he! He'd make a fuss if he did."
"How do you intend to get him on board, then?"
"I shall invite him to come and see the vessel, and when he is down below I can take care that he stays there till we are fairly at sea."
"A good plan. What is the youngster's name, Mr. Randall?"