"He has a fine uncle, then," interrupted James Playfair.
"Hah! Hah!" laughed Crockston.
"Have you finished?" asked the Captain, very impatiently.
"Well, this is what I have to say, when one takes the uncle, the nephew comes into the bargain."
"Ah! indeed!"
"Yes, that is the custom, the one does not go without the other."
"And what is this nephew of yours?"
"A lad of fifteen whom I am going to train to the sea; he is willing to learn, and will make a fine sailor some day."
"How now, Master Crockston," cried James Playfair; "do you think the Dolphin is a training-school for cabin-boys?"
"Don't let us speak ill of cabin-boys: there was one of them who became Admiral Nelson, and another Admiral Franklin."