sails, one of the sailors stepped up to him.

"Would you mind doing us a favor?" he asked respectfully.

"Of course not. I'll do anything I can for you," answered Bob,
glad to make the closer acquaintance of the men.

"Then would you kindly go to Captain Spark and ask him for a
left-handed marlinspike? We need it to splice this hawser with.
He keeps it in his cabin because there's only one on board and it's
quite a valuable instrument."

The man spoke as gravely as a judge.

"A left-handed marlinspike?" repeated Bob. "I suppose one of the
sailors must be left-handed," he thought.

He knew what a marlinspike was from having seen the men use the
sharp-pointed irons to pick apart the strands of rope preparatory
to splicing, so, anxious to be of service, he hurried to Captain
Spark's cabin.

"The men sent me for a left-handed marlinspike," he said,
interrupting the commander, who was busy over his accounts.

"A left-handed marlinspike," repeated the commander, at once
understanding the joke.

"Yes, sir."