“No, sir, I never did. And I ain’t heard from my mother for most a year, and—and—” He stopped and sniffed, the tears welling into his eyes.
“That’s too bad!” said Nelson. “But don’t you worry. We’ll get you ashore somewhere, and you can get home.”
“I guess he’ll catch me,” said the boy hopelessly.
“Oh, no, he won’t! Got any money?”
“Yes, sir.”
“How much?” Spencer observed his questioner suspiciously for a second. But Nelson’s face showed only kindness and sympathy, and the boy’s eyes dropped.
“’Most two dollars,” he answered.
“Well, that’s not a great deal, is it? Did you get paid on the ship?”
“Fifty cents a month.”
“Gee!” exclaimed Dan. “Isn’t he the reckless captain!”