Little thinking the latter was the wiser course for me to follow by all odds, I arose to retrace my steps to the inn. As I did so I noticed that a yawl had rounded the opposite point, and was coming into the cove, apparently crossing over from Salem. It occurred to me that here might be a chance for me to secure a passage over to that town in the afternoon, so I waited the arrival of the boat. Soon it was near enough for me to see that it was pulled by two men in sailor garb, while a third, whose dress and appearance suggested he might be a ship’s officer, sat in the stern. In another moment the light craft touched the beach, and the last-named gentleman stepped ashore. As I went forward to accost him, I heard him say to his companions:
“Remain here, lads, until I return. I shall not keep you waiting long if I have good luck in finding the man I am after.”
“Aye! Aye! Capt’n,” they replied. “You’ll find us here when you get back.”
Those words gave directions to the form of my salutation, as I reached his side. Touching my hat, I said:
“I beg your pardon, Captain, but are you just over from Salem?”
“Yes,” he answered, a little gruffly, I thought, “but what is that to you?”
“Do you know of any vessel over there that will soon sail for Portugal?”
I added that last word to my query, for it had suddenly occurred to me that, if I could reach that country, I might join Captain Tucker over there as well as on this side of the ocean.
“I do,” he admitted, “but why do you ask?” and for the first time he looked me carefully over.
“I’d like to ship on her,” I cried joyfully. “Will you kindly tell me her name, and where I can find her captain?”