“Well, I’ve got about all the men I want, except a cook, and I don’t suppose he can fill that berth, but I’ll take a look at him, and if we suit each other perhaps I can make room for him.”
“If you want a cook,” said Breeze, eagerly, “why not try and get old Mateo? He is the best cook sailing out of Gloucester, and if the Albatross is going to be laid up for some time, perhaps he will go with us.”
“I see that you were cut out for a regular shipping agent,” laughed the captain, “but I’ll get Mateo if I can.”
Everything went well that day. Captain Coffin took a fancy to Wolfe and offered him a berth on the Fishhawk almost as soon as he saw him. Wolfe, who was willing to ship for any kind of a trip, was greatly pleased at the prospect of going with Breeze, and at once accepted the offer.
Old Mateo, too, who, now that his boy had become a sailor, seemed to think it his duty to follow and watch over him, was easily booked as cook of the new schooner.
The big halibut caught by Breeze sold for nearly twenty dollars, and the boy was handed a check for thirty-four dollars as the result of his eight days’ trip to George’s. Wolfe was also made happy by receiving twelve dollars as his share of the three days’ fishing after he had been picked up.
After getting his check cashed, and repaying what old Mateo had loaned him, Breeze carried the rest home to his mother. This money, added to what he had made on the mackerelling trip in the Curlew, amounted to sixty-five dollars. It would be hard to tell whether he or his mother was the prouder over this satisfactory result of the boys’ first efforts as a bread-winner.
During the long, happy talk that they had after supper, their one regret was that the father was not there to share their joy, but they spoke hopefully of his coming, and the future looked brighter to them than it had for many a day. Mrs. McCloud was greatly interested in what Breeze had to tell her of his adventure with the New York jeweller who had opened the golden ball. They both examined it minutely, but could discover no joint amid the delicate tracery of its surface. After it had been again restored to its place, Mrs. McCloud cautioned the boy to always guard it carefully, as she felt more than ever certain that some day it would prove of great value to him.
About eight o’clock Breeze started up, saying that he must go back to the schooner after Wolfe Brady. He had invited him to come home to supper and spend the night, but Wolfe had begged for a little time in which to purchase some very necessary additions to his scanty wardrobe, and Breeze had promised to meet him on board the Albatross soon after eight o’clock. Since then he had told his mother all that he knew of the young stranger, and so excited her interest in him that she now sent him an invitation to stay with them as long as he should remain in port.
Kissing his mother good-by, and promising to be back very soon, Breeze left the house; and taking her sewing, Mrs. McCloud sat down to await his return.