Mr. Coffin had hardly made this mental inventory of the fellow, when Caleb, accompanied by Mr. Pepper, came forward. The strange youth evidently recognized the captain of the whaleback at once as the individual he wished to see.
“You’re Captain Wetherbee,” he said quickly fumbling in the inside of his coarse flannel shirt (the shirt and trousers were all he had on) “I got somethin’ fur you from Brandon Tarr.”
“Where is he?” cried Mr. Pepper, in great excitement.
“He’s gone to sea, boss,” responded the boy calmly.
“Hey!” roared Caleb, and then the messenger brought forth that which he was fumbling for—a little waterproof matchbox.
“Gone to sea?” repeated Adoniram, in bewilderment.
“Dat’s it,” said the boy. “He went day ’fore yest’day mornin’ in de Success.”
But Caleb had opened the matchbox and drawn forth the folded paper it contained.
“It’s a letter—the young rascal! Why didn’t he come himself?”
“Didn’t I tell ye he’d gone ter sea?” demanded the youth in disgust.