"I was about sixteen. How old are you?"
"Almost fourteen. I shall be fourteen next month."
"You are a very good size for your age."
"Yes," said Charlie, with boyish pride, drawing himself up to his full height. Like most boys, he liked to be told he was large of his age.
"My father was quite a large man," added our young hero.
"I know it," muttered Randall to himself, as the handsome face and manly form of the father rose before him. They were imprinted more vividly upon his memory, because he felt that it was these very advantages which had enabled his rival to succeed in winning the prize for which he had vainly contended.
"Did you speak?" said Charlie, hearing indistinctly the words which his companion muttered.
"No," said Randall, shortly. "But I promised to show you something about the vessel. I suppose you know the names of the masts."
"Yes, sir."
"What do they call this?"