Watching until he saw Artie Jenkins turn off on the road and disappear, Captain Bill returned to the store, and beckoned to Sam Black. The sailor came forward.
“Did you see that young chap I was talking to?” inquired Captain Bill.
Sam Black nodded. “The little dude,” he said, contemptuously.
“Did he get a look at you, think?” asked Captain Bill.
“Why, no, he didn’t see me, I reckon,” said the sailor, with surprise.
“Good!” exclaimed Captain Black. “Pick up that sack and come on. I’ll tell you what I want, on the way.”
Sam Black shouldered the sack, and they started back in the direction of the shore.
“That little rascal, Artie Jenkins, is the meanest crimp in Baltimore!” exclaimed Captain Bill. “Fools us, right along,” he added, with virtuous indignation. “What’s the use of crimping a man as won’t be any good when he’s down the bay? That’s what I want to know. He does it right along. I say as how it’s a shame to knock a man out and use him like they do, unless he’s going to be some good to us, when we get him. That’s why Ham Haley and I have got it in for Artie Jenkins.”
“Now,” continued Captain Bill, “I’m going to send you back there again, to ship with him aboard my bug-eye. Do you understand? He’ll come down with you here to-night, and we’ll attend to the rest. You don’t know anything about me nor my dredger—understand?”
Sam Black grinned.