Ralph replied and Bludson added:
"Blest if the kid's ever seen the ocean before. He don't know a brace from a marlin spike."
"I can learn, I reckon," said Ralph so heartily that Mr. Duff took a second look at the boy, then smiled to himself.
"Run down to the cabin and fetch me up the doctor," said the mate. "Yon's the way."
He pointed towards the companionway.
Ralph, somewhat puzzled, started down, but fancied he heard a sound of smothered laughter as he passed from sight.
"They're making fun of me," thought he. "I don't believe there is any doctor here."
The two men having finished with the cable went forward, just as Ralph reappeared bearing a box of patent pills he had found below.
"That's the nearest thing to a doctor I could find," said he.
The mate roared with laughter, while Long Tom grinned broadly, and the sailors snickered.