The man hesitated. “Well, no, sir. She sailed without me.”
“Drunk, eh? Going to let it go at that?”
He hesitated again. “Well, the truth is, sir, I was n’t sorry. I ’m not ready to go home yet.”
“Think you ’ll be ready to go home in a couple of years? Where do you hail from?”
“Near Boston.”
Mr. Baker grunted again, and was silent for a little. Then he directed a piercing look at the man.
“Where has the Apollo been in the last year?”
“Over New Zealand way, Samoa and Kingsmill—South Seas.”
“Know those waters?”
“Very well, sir.”