CHAPTER XLVII
AN AMERICAN WAGER
Jack Wharton was not one of those men who mean something else than what they say. His whole vocabulary was either "Yes" or "No," just as the circumstances were. When Clary arrived at the harbor at seven o'clock, she found a troop of giants awaiting her, who stood in line like Prussian grenadiers. Wharton moved his hat, and said:
"You see, my lady, we are punctual."
"I did not expect anything else," Clary simply replied, "and please see that my luggage is carefully brought on board—and nothing broken," she added, as she cast a glance at the broad forms of the sailors.
Wharton promised to carry out her orders faithfully.
"Have you never had any adventures, captain?" she asked. "I should like to know something about your wife."
"Mrs. Wharton is a pearl—she was a widow when I married her—"