Stump had really remained behind in order to buy a complete set of
charts, but he checked his confidences at that point, nor did Royson
endeavor to probe further into the recent history of the yacht.

Instead of traversing Marseilles at night, they drove through its
picturesque streets in broad daylight. Both Royson and the captain were
delighted with the lines of the _Aphrodite_ when they saw her in the
spacious dock. Her tapering bows and rakish build gave her an
appearance of greater size than her tonnage warranted. Royson was
sailor enough to perceive that her masts and spars were intended for
use, and, when he reached her deck, to which much scrubbing and
vigorous holy-stoning had given the color of new bread, he knew that
none but men trained on a warship had coiled each rope and polished
every inch of shining brass.

And his heart sank a little then. The looks and carriage of the few
sailors visible at the moment betokened their training. How could he
hope to hold his own with them? The first day at sea must reveal his
incompetence. He would be the laughing-stock of the crew.

He was almost nervous when an undersized hairy personage shoved a
grinning face up a companionway, and hailed Stump joyfully. Then the
captain did a thing which went far to prove that true gentility is not
a matter of deportment or mincing phrase.

"Keep mum before this crowd," he muttered. "Stand by, and I'll pull you
through."

Stump extended a gigantic hand to the hairy one. "Glad to see you
again, old Never-fail," he roared. "Let me introjuice our second mate.