The captain's teeth gleamed almost fiercely as he smiled in a friendly manner, though his eyes never relented in their hard, unfeeling stare.
Ralph drew forth the note from the envelope and read:—
MY DEAR COUSIN:
This will make you acquainted with a youth in whose welfare I already feel a deep interest. He has made up his mind to learn to be a sailor, and I shall take it very kindly if you will take charge of him, and see what he can do. Give him as easy a berth as you can, and let me know from time to time what progress he is making. His name is Ralph Granger, and he is as plucky as he looks.
Your cousin and friend,
THEODORE SHARD.
To CAPTAIN MARK GARY,
Marshall House, Savannah.
This seemed flattering enough. As Ralph expressed his thanks, he repressed a fleeting idea that the tone of the letter was most too much that way.
Shard shook him by the hand, and was about to retire when he appeared to recollect something.
"Need any money, for clothes, and so on?"
"I have enough to do me," said Ralph. "You have done enough already, and I——"