“Yes, sir,” Jack answered, courteously.
No more was said until the boat had come up alongside.
“I thought maybe you'd be willing to let me have a look over a craft of this sort,” said the man in the bow. He appeared to be about forty years of age, dark-haired and with a full, black beard. The man was plainly though not roughly dressed; evidently he was a man of some education.
“Why, I'm mighty sorry, sir,” Captain Jack Benson replied. “But I'm afraid it will be impossible to allow any strangers on board during this cruise.”
“Oh, I won't steal anything from your craft,” answered the stranger, laughingly. “I won't be inquisitive, either, or go poking into forbidden corners. Who's your captain?”
“I am, sir.”
“Then you'll let me come aboard, just for a look, won't you?” pleaded the stranger.
Such curiosity was natural. The man seemed like a decent fellow. But Jack shook his head.
[pg 169] “I'm sorry, sir, but I'm positive our owners wouldn't approve of our allowing any strangers to come on board.”
“Had any trouble, so far, with strangers?” asked the man.