“I told him he had no right to accuse me of either. He nearly took my head off, and demanded to know if I questioned his authority on his own ship. I told him I didn’t care whether he was captain of the Lycoming or President of the United States, I was neither drunk nor a liar and that he had no right to accuse me of being either.”
Roy’s companion slapped his leg in huge delight. “Boy,” he said, “you’re made with Captain Lansford. You couldn’t have done anything that would please him more. He loves courage and there are mighty few people who have enough of it to stand up to him.”
Roy looked rueful. “He’ll never forgive me,” he said. “You should have heard him order me to my quarters.”
But Roy’s companion only chuckled. “Now tell me all about your eye,” he said.
Roy told him how he came by it. Then he added, “I suppose you are the purser, and I’m mighty glad. I don’t know how I can ever show my gratitude for your kindness, but I thank you with all my heart. My name is Roy Mercer.”
“Thank you, lad. Thank you,” said the purser. “It’s always a pleasure to help a good boy like yourself. My name is Robbins, Frank Robbins, and I am the purser. I foresee that we shall be very good friends.”
“I hope so,” said Roy. “It won’t be my fault if we aren’t. Won’t you come up and see my wireless room? And, by the way, I’ve got some crullers my mother gave me. You must try them.”
“God bless the lad!” ejaculated the purser. “Crullers—the kind that mother used to make—the real thing—and he wants to share them. To be sure, I’ll come. But let me finish that manifest first. Work before play is the motto on this ship.”
“I’d bet on that,” thought Roy, “if Captain Lansford had anything to do with it.”
The purser went to his office and Roy to the wireless house. But what a different lad he was from the Roy who had left it so short a time before. He had found a friend in need; and a friend in need is a friend indeed. Now his eyes were aglow and his heart beat merrily. He looked at his shining instruments as a mother views her child. Sitting down at the operating table, he adjusted his receivers to his head and threw over the switch.