“Your ship ’s a whaler, I take it,” the man resumed presently. “I spotted you for whalemen. Sperm?”
Peter nodded.
“To Australia, Sunda Strait, China Sea, Japan, and New Zealand?”
“I s’pose so,” said Peter, “but I can’t say for certain.”
“I wonder,” said the man slowly, “if your vessel needs another hand? Are you a boatsteerer?” he asked, looking at Peter.
Peter smiled and shook his head.
“You ought to be,” the man said, “or one of the mates. Been to sea all your life, have n’t you?”
“Forty years, and over.”
“I thought so. Know a ship from truck to keelson. More real seamanship than the rest of the crew put together. Old navy man and merchant service, too, eh?”
“Yes,” said Peter, modestly. “How did you know?”