"Until to-day, honorable sir."
"Meaning you have left the employ of the hotel?"
"Yes, honorable sir."
"Then you're going away from here?"
"I hope to follow the sea, honorable sir. I am a sailor. All my ancestors before me were sailors. We love the salt water."
"There is something, then, that I can do for you, isn't there?" guessed the shipbuilder.
"If you will be so good, honorable sir. I seek to become steward aboard your boat."
"Oh," replied M. Farnum, understanding, at last. "You will have to speak to Captain Benson about that."
He indicated Jack by a nod, so the little Japanese turned to Benson with another bow.
Now, as it happened, a steward was just what Captain Benson wanted. Such duties, formerly, had fallen upon Eph Somers. But now cooking and serving meals did not exactly jibe with Eph's present position aboard the "Benson" Eph was really first officer or mate.