"It's awfully good of you, old man," he said.
"Nonsense. It's a mighty little thing to do for you, when you came across the Atlantic for me."
"Oh, rats!" Tab rejoined inelegantly. "I came for the fun of it."
They paid the reckoning, and made their way to the quay, where for an hour and a half the boat had been waiting for Jerry. The men were lolling about in the stray corners of shade available, smoking and sleepily exchanging occasional remarks; but at the sight of the captain they woke up at once.
"Here's the skipper," cried one, jumping to his feet and saluting.
The others followed his example with alacrity, and Jack could not but be gratified by the unmistakable pleasure they showed at seeing him again.
"How are you, boys?" he said cheerily. "Glad to see you all. You seem to be in fighting trim, the whole lot of you."
"We're bang up, sir," responded Dave, with a grin. "'Tain't the kind o' weather we left home in, sir."
"Not exactly," Jack responded laughingly, as he took his place in the stern-sheets; "but I hope you don't miss the fog too much. Oars!"
Jack stayed on the Merle for an hour and a half, reading the log and exchanging with Jerry all the news that either could rake up. Gonzague made errands into the cabin evidently for the purpose of feasting his eyes on his master, and beamed with delight at every word Castleport spoke to him. When the old man found that the captain had not come to remain, he looked so doleful that Castleport rallied him about not liking Tab as a skipper.