“Yes, sir,” said I, eagerly.
“Very well, then. The Chief Engineer tells me, Mr. Purser, that one of his firemen is laid up with a sprained wrist; so find this boy a suit of overalls if you can and turn him loose in the boiler-room. It is a good hot job, and it will take off some of his flesh; he’s a deal too fat. Now, get along with you, you young scamps, and mind you behave yourselves.”
“Well, boys,” said the Purser, after we had retired, “you have come out of that scrape pretty well.”
“Thanks to you, sir, I expect,” said Percy.
“I put in a good word for you, I admit,” replied our big friend. “I was pleased with the way you spoke up last night. Now I must see to putting you to work. Come along.”
As a result of the Purser’s arrangements Percy and I were separated; he being pretty closely confined by his duties in the Purser’s office, while I, dressed up in a canvas suit, was sent down into the black depths of the ship, to shovel coal.
It would be needless repetition to go into all the details of our voyage, every day being but a counterpart of the day before. It is enough to say that when, after a smooth and uneventful passage, the engines at last stopped, and I was at liberty to go on deck, I found myself looking out over a great city,—the metropolis of the Southern States.
Before we went ashore I was told that the Captain had sent for me to his cabin, and as soon as I had washed and changed my canvas suit for my own clothes I hastened to obey the message. I was about to knock at the door when I saw Percy coming towards me, and guessing that he had received a similar command I waited for him.
As I stood there close by the door I heard the Captain’s voice addressing someone inside. He seemed to be much amused by something his companion had just been telling him, for he was laughing heartily.
“Capital idea!” he exclaimed. “It will do them all the good in the world. You may report from me that they have behaved very well, and that in my opinion they are quite capable of taking care of themselves.”