“Oh, yes, I s’ppose so, Pepperpod—and the boy, too. By the way, does Lawrence Coffin know anything about this craft?”
“He went to West Superior (where she was built) and came down in her,” declared the merchant.
“It’s all right, then. He’ll know what to do if we get to sea and the blamed thing should roll over.”
But despite the fact that he scoffed at the vessel, Caleb set to work with his customary energy to make ready for the voyage.
The ship owner gave him carte blanche to provision the whaleback and secure the crew. The engineers and firemen were already engaged and the work of making ready for sea went on rapidly.
Caleb being a worker himself, expected a good deal of everybody about him and Brandon found himself with plenty to do during the next two days. He ran errands, and bought provisions under the old sailor’s directions, and saw to the storing away of the articles purchased.
On the morning of the third day, however, came an interruption, and one which promised to be most serious.
In these times of hurried preparation Caleb and his young second mate made the Water Street office of Adoniram Pepper & Co. their headquarters. They were in and out of the place a score of times a day to the satisfaction of Adoniram, but, if the truth were told, to the great annoyance of the solemn faced young man whom Mr. Marks had sent up from the other office to take the place of the departed Weeks.
About ten o’clock on this forenoon Brandon ran in to see if he could find Caleb, as that individual was not at the dock where lay the whaleback, and where the boy had expected to meet him.
“Where do you suppose he has gone?” Don asked of Mr. Pepper, who, good soul, seemed to have no other business on hand but the getting ready of the steamer.