This made the captain a happy man.
“I’ll go and tell my wife at once,” he cried. “When do we sail?”
“In one week from to-day.”
“Good! I’ll report for duty then. Good luck till I see you again.”
And the bluff captain was gone.
Frank had two valuable men in his employ who traveled with him the world over.
One was a negro, black as coal and jolly as could be. He rejoiced in the name of Pomp.
The other was an Irishman, as full of native wit as a nut is of meat. His name was Barney O’Shea.
Barney and Pomp were almost as famous as their young master and his inventions.
They were the warmest of friends, and yet to hear them talk one would have felt assured they were enemies, for they were fond of railing at each other in a mock serious way.