e halyards reeved and
straightened out. Think we're going to lie here all Summer? Lively now!
I think I could use you, if you've any knack of handling men," he added
in lower tones, turning to Jack. "It's slow work, getting fitted out."

"I could come any time," Jepson answered, and Alice noted that the old
sailor gazed furtively now and then at the captain. It was as though he
wanted to impress his memory with the face of the commander. "I'm over
in Sailors' Snug Harbor," Jepson went on, "I came over to do some
actin'----"

"Yes, this play acting business is new to me, too," said Captain Brisco.
"But I suppose I can get used to it. Seems rather queer to go to all
this work and expense," he went on to Mr. Pertell, "just to fit a
schooner out, and then sink her. It's a waste of good money, I should
say."

"We'll get our money back, never fear, if the film turns out all right,"
said Mr. Pertell. "Now how are you coming on? That's what I came to see.
I want some of my principal actors to get familiar with the ship, so I
brought them down. I started with Jepson, up in the studio," he added in
a lower voice, for the benefit of Captain Brisco, "but he balked, I'll
tell you about it later. He can stay and help you if you like."

"Well, I probably can use him," the commander said, as he looked at
Jepson, who was wandering about the deck with a curiously abstracted
air.

"Sort of funny thinking he knew you, wasn't it?" commented Mr. Pertell,
while Alice, Ruth and Mr. DeVere looked on with interest at the various
activities connected with getting the _Mary Ellen_ ready for sea.

"Oh, not at all queer," answered Captain Brisco, quickly. "I have
commanded so many men and ships in my day that I must be familiar by
name, at least, to hundreds of sailors. But I never saw this Jepson
before. However, he seems to be a good, honest soul."

"Too honest, by far!" laughed Mr. Pertell. "He wouldn't even pretend to
take some false papers to carry out a film idea. Said he'd been in
enough trouble over being falsely accused in a mutiny!"

"A mutiny!" exclaimed Captain Brisco. "A mutiny!"

"Yes. Why, is that remarkable?" asked the manager, for Captain Brisco
seemed startled.

"No, oh, no! I don't know as it is. I was only thinking if he was given
to starting mutinies, he wouldn't be a safe man to have on board here."

"Oh, you needn't fear for Jepson," the manager said. "He was innocent in
that mutiny affair, I believe. But now as t