"Hope the wind don't come blustering in here much," he said,
apprehensively, as he unfolded the ragged papers with great caution.

The fair-haired young man drew forward his chair, and Cable, seeing the
action, looked at him sharply.

"Seafaring man?" he inquired, with a weight of doubt and distrust in his
voice.

"Not by profession, only for fun."

"Fun? Man and boy, I've used the sea forty years, and I haven't yet
found out where the fun comes in!"

"This gentleman," explained the banker, "his Ex--Mr.--" He paused, and
looked inquiringly at the white-haired gentleman.

"Mr. Martin."

"Mr. Martin will be on board the _Olaf_ when you meet Captain Petersen
in the North Sea. He will act as interpreter. You remember that Captain
Petersen speaks no English, and you do not know his language. The
two crews, I understand, will be similarly placed. Captain Peterson
undertakes to have no one on board speaking English. And your crew, my
fren'?"

"My crew comes from Sun'land. Men that only speak English, and precious
little of that," replied Captain Cable.