Frank Allfrey experienced a strange mingling of feelings when he heard this. Of course he felt much gratified by the fact that a man so grave and sensible as Joe Graddy should come and deferentially offer to become his servant at a time when he possessed nothing but the remnant of a month's salary; and when he considered his own youth, he felt amazed that one so old and manly should volunteer to place himself under his orders. The fact is that Frank was not aware that his straightforward earnest manner had commended him very strongly to those, with whom he had lately come in contact. He was one of those attractive men whose countenances express exactly what they feel, who usually walk with a quick earnest step, if we may say so, and with a somewhat downcast contemplative look. Frank knew well enough that he was strong and tall, unusually so for his age, and therefore did not continually _assert_ the fact by walking as if he was afraid to fall forward, which is a common practice among men who wish to look bigger than they are. Besides, being an ardent student of nature, Frank was himself natural, as well as amiable, and these qualities had endeared him to many people without his being aware of it. "Why, Joe!" he exclaimed, "what do you mean?" "I mean wot I says, sir." "Are you aware," said Frank, smiling, "that I do not possess a shilling beyond the few dollars that I saved off my last month's salary?" "I s'posed as much, sir." "Then if you engage with me, as you express it, how do you expect to be paid?" "I don't expect to be paid, sir." "Come, Joe, explain your meaning, for I don't pretend to be a diviner of men's thoughts." "Well, sir, this is how it is. W'en we got the sack the other day, says I to myself, says I, now you're afloat on the world without rudder, compass, or charts, but you've got a tight craft of your own,--somewhat scrubbed, no doubt, with rough usage, but sound,--so it's time for you to look out for rudder, compass, and charts, and it seems to me that thems to be found with young Mister Allfrey, so you'd better go an' git him to become skipper o' your ship without delay. You see, sir, havin' said that to myself, I've took my own advice, so if you'll take command of me, sir, you may steer me where you please, for I'm ready to be your sarvant for love, seein' that you han't got no money." "Most obliging of you," said Frank, laughing, "and by this offer I understand that you wish to become my companion." "Of coorse, in a country o' this kind," replied Graddy, "it's difficult,--I might a'most say unpossible,--to be a man's sarvant without bein' his companion likewise." "But here is a great difficulty at the outset, Joe. I have not yet made up my mind what course to pursue." "Just so, sir," said the ex-seaman, with a look of satisfaction, "I know'd you wouldn't be doin' that in a hurry, so I've comed to have a talk with 'e about it."