"Well, what are you going to do about it?" inquired the master of the
sailing vessel in a tone intended to be severe.
Jack was watching his new acquaintance closely and thought he detected
just the suspicion of a twinkle in the captain's eye.
"He's playing for time to try me out," thought the lad rapidly. "He
wants to see what I'll do in case of refusal."
Outwardly he gave no indication of what was in his mind, but appeared to
be pondering the situation deeply. At length he said:
"Captain, I'll have to leave it up to you. We want our chums who are
aboard your vessel. I don't know what the marine law is nor whether we'd
have a right to seize them by force if we were able. So I think I'd
better leave it to you. What shall we do, Captain?"
"Well, when you put it that way," replied the Captain, reaching for
Jack's hand and seizing it in a hearty grasp, "I think you'd better take
the lads and with them my apology. Will that do?"
"Captain, you're a brick," shouted Jack, forgetting for a moment in his
enthusiasm the difference in their rank. The next moment he was all
confusion over his breach of etiquette.
Laughing, the captain preceded him up the companion-way and called to
the mate. He then ordered the boys who had been shipped aboard the
"Quickstep," released and turned over to the captain of the Fortuna.
This was done much to the mate's disgust.
There need be no doubt as to the heartiness of the greetings that passed
between the separated members of the Beaver and Bob White Patrols once
they were united again.
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