The boys were so absorbed in their talk that they did not notice the approach of the captain till his harsh voice was heard.
“What are you two boys chattering about?” he demanded, with a frown.
Jack turned round startled, but Harry faced the captain calmly, and did not speak.
“Will you answer me?” he repeated, raising his voice.
“I was talking about home and my mother,” said Jack.
“Mighty interesting, upon my word! And what were you talking about?” continued Captain Hill, turning to Harry.
“That can be of no interest to you, Captain Hill,” said Harry, coldly. “You appear to forget that I am a passenger.”
As he walked away, the captain regarded him with an ominous scowl. He wished that for fifteen minutes Harry had been one of the crew. It was fortunate for Jack that his temper was diverted, for, apparently forgetting the young sailor, he strode on, and Jack managed to slip down to the forecastle.
This was not by any means the last conversation Harry had with Jack Pendleton—for this he found to be the young sailor’s name—and they soon became excellent friends.
“Jack,” said Harry, one day, “I never should take you to be a sailor if I met you on land.”