“You don’t want to do that till the rough work’s all finished,” he said, “or everything will get scratched up. I’ve got the mast to put in, and there’s a week’s carpentering ahead of you yet. You’ll want two or three new cleats. And what about belaying-pins? They’re all gone.”
“Oh, yes, we must have at least one belaying-pin!” exclaimed Jack, with a humorous glance at the mate. “Tell me, Mr. Santo, aren’t they the little round sticks that go into the mast rail there, to belay the halyards on?”
“That’s the idea; but they’ve all got lost. You can easily make them.”
“And I want the marlinespike,” chirped George. “I think every mate should have at least one of those if the captain is going to have half a dozen belaying-pins.”
“Do you know what a marlinespike is?” queried Tony, puzzled.
“It’s something a sailmaker uses, isn’t it?” asked George.
“Yes, a metal spike about six or seven inches long.”
“Just what I need!” said George.
“I guess there’s enough carpentering work to keep you busy for a while,” said Tony, “unless you’re more handy with tools than George is.”
“George Santo,” said Jack, severely, when they were alone a moment later, “you’re a fraud, and I could have you arrested.”