Captain Israel Matthews, commanding the United States revenue-cutter Phoca, and one of the most highly esteemed officers in the service, had cruised in those far northern waters for two years, and during most of that time he had been accompanied by his motherless daughter May, who loved the sea as a sailor’s daughter should. During these years May Matthews had made several long visits in Sitka, where there is always a charming colony of naval families and those of other government officials. Here she had also become well acquainted in the few old Russian households still remaining in that quaint Alaskan town. Of these the Belcofskys were the most prominent; so by this time she and Serge seemed quite like old friends.
On the present occasion, while she was greeting him, and laughing familiarly at his ragged and generally disreputable appearance, Phil edged towards the door in a vain effort to escape an immediate introduction. In this, however, he was frustrated by the captain, who, noting the movement, called out sternly:
“Hello there, prisoner! No dodging! Come back here and be introduced to your jailer, who will be held responsible if you escape. [Daughter, allow me to present my friend Mr. Philip Ryder], dressed for his famous impersonation of an Aleut swell, in the Alaskan comedy of ‘Bering Breakers.’”
[“‘DAUGHTER, ALLOW ME TO PRESENT MY FRIEND, MR. PHILIP RYDER’”]
“Don’t mind him, Mr. Ryder,” laughed Miss May, extending her hand with engaging cordiality to poor embarrassed Phil. “He chaffs every one just that way, and says the most horrid things. You ought to see him in his winter uniform. He looks so exactly like an Eskimo that even the dogs howl and run away at sight of him.”
“Yes, my winter coat really does make them howl with envy,” retorted Captain Matthews. “But come, lads, let us go into the wardroom and see if we can’t provide you with some civilized toggery. After that, as a penalty for your recent acts of piracy, etc., I sentence you both to appear in this cabin and breakfast with Miss May and myself.”
In the wardroom, or officers’ quarters, the captain introduced Phil and Serge to several of the younger officers, who readily undertook to furnish them with an outfit of clothing suitable to an appearance at the cabin breakfast-table.
When, an hour later, after a welcome bath, after that member of the crew who acted as ship’s barber had trimmed their hair, and clad in exceedingly becoming suits of uniform, our lads again presented themselves in the cabin, Captain Matthews insisted that they should introduce each other to him. Otherwise, he declared, he should never believe they were the castaways whom out of pity for their starving condition he had invited to breakfast.
“Just wait, sir, until you see us eat,” remarked Phil, significantly.