(here the captain waxed emphatic, and struck his fist
on the table.) "Now look here, young man, _I'm_ an old wife, and my
ship's manned by similar old ladies; so you won't suit."

To this the seaman made no reply, but feeling doubtless, as he regarded
the masculine specimen before him, that he would be quite out of his
element among such a crew of females, he thrust a quid of tobacco into
his cheek, put on his hat, turned on his heel and left the room,
shutting the door after him with a bang.

He had scarcely left when a tap at the door announced a second visitor.

"Hum! Another `tail,' I suppose. Come in."

If the new-comer _was_ a "tail," he was decidedly a long one, being six
feet three in his stockings at the very least.

"You wants a cook, I b'lieve?" said the man, pulling off his hat.

"I do. Are you one?"

"Yes, I jist guess I am. Bin a cook for fifteen year."

"Been to sea as a cook?" inquired the captain.

"I jist have. Once to the South Seas, twice to the North, an' once
round the world. Cook all the time. I've roasted, and stewed, and
grilled, and fried, and biled, right round the 'arth, I have."

Being apparently satisfied with the man's account of himself, Captain
Dunning put to him the question--"Do you drink?"

"Ay, like a fish; for I drinks nothin' but water, I don't. Bin born and
raised in the State of Maine, d'ye see, an' never tasted a drop all my
life."

"Very good," said the captain, who plumed himself on being a clever
physiognomist, and had already formed a good opinion of the man. "Do
you ever swear?"

"Never, but when I can't help it."

"And when's that?"

"When I'm fit to bu'st."

"Then," replied the captain, "you must learn to bu'st without swearin',
'cause I don't allow it aboard my ship."

The man evidently regarded his questioner as a very extraordinary and
eccentric individual; but he merely replied, "I'll try;" and after a
little further conversation an agreement was come to; the man was sent
away with orders to repair on board immediately, as everything was in
readiness to "up anchor and away next morning."

Having thus satisfactorily and effectually disposed of the "tail,"
Captain Dunning put on his hat very much on the back of his head, knit
his brows, and pursed his lips firmly, as if he had still some important
duty to perform; then, quitting the hotel, he traversed the streets of
the town with rapid strides.

CHAPTER TWO.

IMPORTANT PERSONAGES