“That’s it, sir,” echoed the rest, to show that they were all of one mind.
“Well, if you all like to join provisionally, I will see what the Captain will consent to do,” answered the lieutenant.
Now as none of the party had the slightest idea of what joining provisionally meant, they were very much inclined to declare off altogether, when just then a young active man, with an extremely pleasant expression of countenance, in the full-dress uniform of a Post-Captain, was seen coming up the High Street. He stopped when he got up to the group of seamen.
“Ah, Mr Brine, are any of these men going to join us?” he asked, glancing his keen eyes over them. His countenance brightened when he saw Paul Pringle.
“Why, I believe that I see an old shipmate whom I have not met for many a year; and not one only—two or three more of you I remember clearly. Am I not right?” said he. “We served together in the old Terrible, and afterwards in the Fame.”
“I thought so, sir!” exclaimed Paul with a cheerful voice. “I remember you now, sir, that I do, though I shouldn’t if you hadn’t told me where we’d been together. Maybe, sir, you remember a little baby you used to be kind to, born aboard the ship. There he is, sir.”
“What, Billy True Blue! Of course I do,” answered the Captain in a pleasant tone. “Come here, my lad; and you still follow the sea, do you? You began pretty early.”
“There’s no other calling to my mind a man would wish to follow, sir,” answered True Blue.
“All right, my men,” said Captain Garland; “if you haven’t got a ship, I shall be very glad if you will join the Ruby. I do not believe that there are many frigates in the service will beat her in any way, and I promise you it will not be my fault if she isn’t a happy ship.”
“Just one word, sir, with the rest and we’ll tell you,” said Paul.