"I thought as much," eagerly, "and money has the same chink however it be earned. You could use some?"
"If I had any to use; after a sailor has been drunk there is not apt to be much left in his pockets."
He reached across into the upper bunk, and brought forth a bottle and glass, placing these upon the table at his elbow.
"Have a drink first," he said, pouring it out. "It will stiffen your nerve."
"Thanks, no, Senor. I have nerve enough and once I start that sort of thing there is no stopping. Take it yourself and then tell me what is in the wind."
"I will, Gates," affecting cordiality, although I somehow felt that my refusal to imbibe had aroused a faint suspicion in his mind. "But I would rather you would show yourself a good fellow. I like to see a man take his liquor and hold it."
He sat down the emptied glass, and straightened back in the chair, his eyes searching as ever.
"The fact is," he began doubtfully, "what you just said to me on deck chanced to be of interest. You were not boasting?"
"I answered your questions truthfully, if that is what you mean."
"You are a navigator?"