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t a very good opinion of them at any rate," said Tom. "I wonder what the beggar spoke to us for, eh? If he is the man you say, I don't suppose he would have the cheek to go on board the _Muscadine_." "No, I should think not," agreed Charley; "and if he does, the skipper will soon overhaul his papers, and then find him out." "Aha, ah!" grunted out Mohammed. "De Grec is one ver clevaire rogue, and would sheet Sheitan himself." "Who is he?" asked Charley innocently. "I heard you mention him before." "De Debble!" answered the Turk, so gravely that both the young fellows burst out into such paroxysms of laughter that Mohammed thought they were ridiculing him, and they had much difficulty in assuring him to the contrary. Indeed, it was not until late in the evening, after they had dinner of kebabs and coffee and their host had imbibed several cups of his "med-i-seen," that he grew friendly again; and then, he was so cordial that he wept over them at their departure, and assured them that he loved them as his own children, as his brothers, as his father, nay, even as his great-grandfather, who had borne the standard of the prophet in the annual pilgrimage to Mecca! When Tom and Charley got on board the _Muscadine_, they saw only the second officer, Mr Tompkins, who after telling them that they were very late, and that the captain had turned in long since, said they might go below; which of course, as the ship was in harbour and only an anchor watch kept, when their services were not required, they were extremely grateful for, and turned in accordingly, without giving a thought to their rencontre at the khan. The next morning, however, when they came on deck they saw three or four Greek sailors lounging about the foc's'le, and Mohammed's warning recurred to there with startling significance. "Who are those men?" asked Charley of Mr Tompkins, who was in command of the vessel for the time being, Captain Harding, the skipper, having gone ashore, and the chief mate being invalided with those of the crew who were in the lazaretto. "Some new hands the captain shipped last night," answered he; "and if you've any more business ashore, Master Onslow, you'd better look sharp about it, as we're going to sail as soon as we've obtained pratique, which will be about four bells, I reckon." "But, does Cap'en Harding know about them?" asked Tom, sinking his objection to having any conversation with the second officer in
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