"that sailor," as Mark called him, a little
stumpy fellow who looked as though he should have been plump and rosy,
but who was ghastly pale instead, sauntered up slowly, looking very hard
at Mark, and opened his lips as if to say something, but closed them
again as if with an effort.

He was dressed in a sailor's canvas frock and loose trousers, both of
which articles of attire were old and shabby but scrupulously clean,
while his hat, a very old straw, showed an ugly rent which its owner had
apparently tried to hide by means of the silken band just above its
brim. But the band had slipped upwards so that a good-sized patch of
crisp, curly, black hair had escaped and thrust its way out into the
sun.

As the man came abreast, he opened his lips and closed them twice before
passing on, and in the sultry stillness of the sleepy place they heard
him give a faint sigh.

"Doesn't look much like a beggar," said Dean. "He's had a fever, or
something."

"Well, I shouldn't like to have a fever here," said Mark. "I don't mean
to be ill. If I am it's because I have come to a place where there's
nothing to do and nothing to see. Oh, I am disappointed! Here he comes
back again. He must be a beggar, and he's ashamed to ask us to give him
something. No, it can't be that. For foreign beggars are not ashamed
to beg. I shall ask him if he has been ill."

"No, don't. He mightn't like it," said Dean.

"Then he will have to dislike it."

"Don't talk so loud," whispered Dean, for the sailor passed close to
them again, looking from one to the other wistfully.

"Poor beggar!" said Mark, as the man passed on. "I am sure he is a
beggar, and he's too stupid and drowsy to beg."

"'Tisn't that," said Dean. "He wants a job."

"Well, that means he wants money. _Hola_!"

The man stopped and looked round eagerly, and the boys could see that
his lips were quivering as he made a movement with his hand as if in
salute.

"_Dinheiro_," continued Mark, slapping his pocket.

"Ah, gentlemen, then you are English?"

"Rather!" said Mark. "Are you hard up in this sleepy place?"

"Yes, sir--no, sir," cried the man hastily.

"What is it, then? Do you want a job?" And Mark drew out a shilling.

"Yes, sir; badly, sir."

"Well, have you got a boat?"

"No, sir; I wish I had. No, sir; thank you, sir. I did not mean that;"
and the man thrust his hands deeply into his pockets, while Mark thrust
his out of sight as well, shilling