“Well, Bax, is the new ship a good one?” said Guy; “d’you think she will suit you?”
“That will she,” said Bax, with a gratified look. “As the old song says—
“‘She’s a ship that’s as tight to my fancy
As ever sailed o’er the salt seas.’
“I think she will be ready for sea in a couple of months. By that time I will be ready to take command, if you choose to trust her to me.”
“Trust her to you, Bax! Do you think we may trust our new vessel to him, Mr Crumps?” inquired Guy, with a smile.
Mr Crumps, not having recovered the power of speech, nodded his head, and rubbed his hands slowly, a benignant smile playing on his old face the while.
“Well, then,” continued Bax, “Amy, so far from making any objection to going to sea with me, says that she won’t let me go away without her, so that’s settled, and the wedding day is fixed for Monday next week. But I’m not satisfied yet. I want you to do me still another favour, Guy.”
“What is that?”
“To let Tommy Bogey go as supercargo. He’s seaman enough to go as first mate, but he’s too young for that yet. Also, I want to take Bluenose as a free passenger.”
“A free passenger!” said Guy, looking at the Captain with surprise.