"'What do you want? Why don't you come here during our office hours, if
you want to see me?'

"I spoke in a gruff voice, and I was so bundled up--for the night was
very cold--that I knew he wouldn't recognize me.

"'I've been busy all day, cap'in,' said he; 'but the fact is'--

"I was afraid that I would be obliged to stand there in the cold and
listen to a long, uninteresting yarn, so I interrupted him.

"'Speak quick, and don't keep me waiting.'

"'Wal, cap'in,' said he, 'I heerd you are in want of officers, an' I
come to get a place for my son; I hear the wages are purty good.'

"'Yes,' I replied, 'we do want officers; but does your son know anything
about a ship?'

"'Oh, yes? He's run the river as deck-hand for goin' nigh on to three
year.'

"'Then he ought to know something, certainly. Come around tomorrow
morning, at nine o'clock exactly, and I'll see what can be done for you.
Now, mind, I say nine o'clock in the morning.'

"Well, the next morning, at the appointed time, to my utter
astonishment, the man was on hand, and, as usual, commenced walking up
and down the floor with his squeaking boots. The noise disturbed
everyone within hearing, and presently the captain, who was in his