Harry and the professor were standing by the rail looking out at sea, one day, when a thick voice greeted them, “Good-mor’n’, gentlemen,” this address being followed by a hiccough. Both turned quickly, and exchanged a significant glance when they recognized the captain. “Yes,” answered Professor Hemenway, “it is indeed a fine morning.” “I am sorry to see this, Harry,” said the professor. “Yes, sir; it is a pity any gentleman should drink too much.” “Yes, but that isn’t all,” said the professor, earnestly; “it is a pity, of course, that Captain Hill should so sin against his own health, but we must consider furthermore, that he has our lives under his control. Our safety depends on his prudent management.” “He seems to understand his business,” said Harry. “Granted; but no man, however good a seaman, is fit to manage a vessel when he allows liquor to rob him of his senses. I wish I had had a knowledge beforehand of the captain’s infirmity.” “Suppose you had, sir?” “I wouldn’t have trusted myself on board the Nantucket, you may be sure of that.” “It may be only an exceptional case.” “Let us hope so.” The next occasion on which the captain displayed his infirmity was rather a laughable one. He came up from the cabin about three o’clock in the afternoon so full that he was forced to stagger as he walked. Directly in front of him the young dude, Montgomery Clinton, was pacing the deck, carrying in his hand a rattan cane such as he used on shore. As he overhauled him, Captain Hill, with the instinct of a drunken man, locked arms with the young man, and forced him to promenade in his company, talking rather incoherently meanwhile. Clinton’s look of distress and perplexity, as he submitted to his fate, caused Harry nearly to explode with laughter. They were indeed a singular pair. Finally there came a disaster. A lurch of the vessel proved too much for the captain, who, in losing his equilibrium, also upset Clinton, and the two rolled down under one of the ship’s boats, which was slung on one side. Montgomery Clinton picked himself up, and hurriedly betook himself to his cabin, fearing that he might fall again into the clutches of his unwelcome companion. The captain was helped to his feet by the mate, and was persuaded also to go downstairs. “The captain was pretty well slewed, professor,” said Mr. Stubbs, who chanced to be on deck at the time. “It looks like it,” answered Professor Hemenway. “If he does that often it’ll be a bad lookout for us.” “Just what I am thinking, Mr. Stubbs.” CHAPTER X THE YOUNG SAILOR The crew of the Nantucket consisted of twelve sailors and a boy, not counting the officers. This boy was about Harry’s age, but an inch or two shorter, and with great breadth of shoulders. He had a good-natured face, and was a general favorite on board, as is apt to be the case with a boy, if he possesses any attractive qualities. He came from New Hampshire and he was known as Jack.