“I am not much in Italian,” laughed the second master. “My uncle set me to learning it in New York; but I forgot most of it, and learned more while we were in Italy than I ever knew before.”
“I wish I had some other lingo besides my own.”
“You can have it by learning it.”
“But I am not so good a scholar as you are, Mr. Raimundo.”
“You don’t know that; for, if I mistake not, you have never laid yourself out on study, as I had not when I first went on board of the Young America. But, to change the subject, you have called me Mr. Raimundo three times since we sat down here. I agree with Stout so far, that we had better drop all titles till I put on my uniform again.”
“I have been so used to calling you Mr., that it comes most natural for me to do so,” replied Bark.
“I think I shall change my name a little; at least, so far as to translate it into plain English. I have always kept my Spanish name, which is Enrique Raimundo. It is so entered on the ship’s books; but I shall make it Henry Raymond for the present.”
“And is that the English of the other name?”
“It is; and, when you call me any thing, let it be Henry.”
“Very well, Henry,” added Bark.