"Mighty interesting, upon my word! And what were you talking about?"
continued Captain Hill, turning to Harry.
"That can be of no interest to you, Captain Hill," said Harry, coldly.
"You appear to forget that I am a passenger."
As he walked away, the captain regarded him with an ominous scowl. He
wished that for fifteen minutes Harry had been one of the crew. It was
fortunate for Jack that his temper was diverted, for, apparently
forgetting the young sailor, he strode on, and Jack managed to slip
down to the forecastle.
This was not by any means the last conversation Harry had with Jack
Pendleton--for this he found to be the young sailor's name--and they
soon became excellent friends.
"Jack," said Harry, one day, "I never should take you to be a sailor
if I met you on land."
"Why not?"
"Because you talk like a well-educated boy."
"So I am. I was always fond of my books, and stood high in school. But
for my stepfather I might be there yet. As it is, my education stopped
at the age of thirteen."
"Not necessarily. You have learned a good deal since."
"Yes, but not of books. I hope sometime to be able to continue my
studies. At present it is my business to learn seamanship."
Harry had the more time on his hands, as his traveling companion, the
professor, took sick, and was confined for three or four weeks to his
cabin.
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