Mr. Trunnell | Page 5

are no passengers?" asked the man, as the younger companion
opened the door leading into the captain's cabin and gazed within.
"Not a bleeding one, and I'm not sorry for that," said Trunnell; "the old
man wasn't built exactly on passenger lines."
"You wouldn't take a couple, then, say for a good snug sum?"
"Well, that's the old man's lay, and I can't say as to the why and
wherefore. He'll probably be along in an hour or two at best, for the tug
will be alongside in a few minutes. We're cleared, and we'll get to sea
as soon as the bloody crimp gets the bleeding windjammers aboard.
They ought to be along presently."
"Em-m-m," said the man, and stroked his chin thoughtfully. "He'll be
along shortly, will he,--and you are all ready. I think I can hear the tug
coming now, hey? Isn't that it?"
"S'pose so," answered the mate.
"Well, just let me insinuate to you politely, my boy, that the sooner you
clear, the better;" his voice was low and full of meaning, and he leaned
toward the mate in a menacing manner; "and if I have to speak to you
more than once, my little friend, you will find out the kind of man
Captain Thompson is. Can you rise to that?"
Trunnell shrank from the stranger's look, for he stuck his face right into
the mate's, and as he finished he raised his voice to its full volume. The
liquor was still in the stout little fellow's head, and he drew back one of
his long arms as if about to strike; then quickly recovering himself, he
scratched his head and stepped back a pace.
"How the bleeding thunder could I tell you were Captain Thompson,
when you come aboard here and ask for a passage?" he demanded. "I
meant no disrespect. Not a bit. No, sir, not a bloody bit. I'm here for
further orders. Yessir, I'm here for further orders and nothin' else. Sing
out and I go."
It was plain that the little bushy-headed fellow was not afraid, for he
squared his broad shoulders and stood at attention like a man who has
dealt with desperate men and knew how to get along with them. At the

same time he knew his position and was careful not to go too far. He
was evidently disturbed, however, for the little thin silver rings in his
ears shook from either nervousness or the effects of liquor.
The tall man looked keenly at him, and appeared to think. Then he
smiled broadly.
"Well, you are a clever little chap, Trunnell," he said; "but for
discernment I don't think you'd lay a very straight course, hey? isn't that
it? Not a very straight course. But with my help I reckon we'll navigate
this ship all right. Who's this?" and he turned toward me.
"That's Mr. Rolling, the second mate. Didn't you meet him at the office?
He was there only a couple of hours ago. Just signed on this evening."
"Ah, yes, I see. A new hand, hey? Well, Mr. Rolling, I suppose you
know what's expected of you. I don't interfere with my mates after I get
to sea. Can you locate the ship and reckon her course?"
I told him I could; and although I did not like the unnautical way this
stranger had about him, I was glad to hear that he did not interfere with
his mates. If he were some hard skipper the agents had taken at a pinch,
it was just as well for him to keep to himself aft, and let his mates stand
watch as they should on every high-class ship. The young man, or
rather boy, who had come aboard with him, looked at me curiously
with a pair of bright blue eyes, while the captain spoke, and appeared to
enjoy the interrogation, for he smiled pleasantly.
"Everything is all ready, as I see," the captain continued. "So I'll go to
bed awhile until my things come aboard. This young man will be third
mate, Mr. Trunnell, and I'll put him under your care. He will go ashore
now and see to the trunks. But let me know the minute the crew come
down, for I won't wait for anything after that. You can let the tug take
the line and be ready to pull us out."
Then the skipper went into the captain's cabin, and we saw him no
more for several hours. The young man went back up town, and half an
hour later returned with a cab containing a trunk, which was put in the
after-cabin. The skipper heard the noise and bade them not reawaken
him under any circumstances until the ship was well out at sea.
"If I have to get up