The captain and old Jim his mate were standing aft, speaking to each other. They were apparently talking about him, for they cast their glances towards where he stood looking round and uncertain what to do.
He was aroused by the captain shouting to him: “You are one of the sleeping order, youngster, I see; you have had a long snooze; you will have to keep your eyes open in future. What is your name?”
“Peter Gray, sir,” answered the boy.
“Peter is enough for us,” said the captain. “Now go forward; your berth is in the forepeak, you will understand; and Jim and the cook will find you work enough. You don’t expect to be idle?”
“No, sir,” said Peter, “I came to learn to be a sailor.”
“They will teach you, and fast enough, too, with a rope’s-end if you don’t look sharp about you,” said the captain, with a laugh, “and soon make you dip your hands in the tar-bucket and swash-tub. Have you got any working duds with you?”
“I don’t know what duds mean, sir,” answered Peter.
“Not know what duds mean, and you a sailor’s son, as you tell me? Clothes, to be sure,” cried the captain, laughing again.
“I have got another suit for Sundays, when I go to church, sir,” answered Peter.
The captain and old Jim laughed in chorus at the reply.