"Waitin' for another one?"

"Yes, sir. We load for Manila bimeby."

"Manila, hey? Have a good passage across?"

"Yes, sir. She good ship."

"Shouldn't wonder. How d'ye do, sir," to the young man, who was standing
near. "Hope you won't think I'm crowdin' in where I don't belong. I was
just tellin' the doctor here that it had been some time since I trod a
quarter-deck, and I thought I'd see if I'd forgot the feel."

"Have you?" asked the young man, smiling.

"Guess not. Seems kind of nat'ral. I never handled such a whale of a
craft as this, though. Didn't have many of 'em in my day. Come over in
her, did you?"

"No," with a shake of the head. "No such luck. I'm a land lubber, just
scouting round, that's all. She's a bully vessel, isn't she?"

"Looks so. Tell you better after I've seen what she could do in a
full-sail breeze. All hands ashore, Doctor?"

"Yes, sir," replied the steward.

"Crew paid off and spendin' their money, I s'pose. Well, if it ain't
against orders, I'd kind of like to look around a little mite. May I?"