As the latter mounted the side of the Cristoval Colon, he met a merry welcome from the tars, some of whom threw out sly innuendoes in their sailor style about pearls and pearl-divers, but he did not permit their harmless jokes to annoy him. After a pleasant visit, Mr. Arthur returned to the plantation; but Ralph did not accompany him, as he desired to remain some days with his father during the vessel’s brief stay in port. He was not a boy who was afraid of work, and now, putting on his everyday rig, he applied himself with a light heart to the duties of the ship, lying stoutly back upon the slack of the tackle, while the sailors hoisted the heavy articles of the cargo, or running aloft to loose the sails for drying after the drenching night dews, and assisting to furl them at evening. “That boy is smart,” old Jack Evans would say to his shipmates. “He is the best fellow for a captain’s son I ever fell in with; he is always looking for something to do.” CHAPTER XVI. OLD JACK SEES A REMEMBERED FACE. One evening, when Ralph went into the forecastle, he found Jack alone there. The old sailor had just been overhauling his sea-chest, and had in his hand the baby’s shoe which he had so long carried for good luck. “I was just looking at it,” he said, “because to-day I came across the father of that identical baby. I hadn’t seen him for about sixteen years, but I knew him in a minute. He was puffing his cigar, just as he used to do about the decks of the Moro Castle.” “What!” exclaimed Ralph, “the very man? Oh, how I wish I had been with you! Who is he, and where does he live?” “That I don’t know,” replied Jack. “Of course, he didn’t know me, and I hadn’t a very good chance to introduce myself. He was jabbering with a lot of other Spaniards on a corner, with his _caramba_ and his _como esta usted_, so that I didn’t feel like going up to him with a yarn about a baby’s shoe. Which way he went I don’t know, for I had to get back to the ship.” “When was it?” asked Ralph, with great earnestness. “It was while I was ashore this noon.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” said the boy. “I would have gone right ashore. But, no--I couldn’t have found him without you. Dear me! I wish I could have been with you.” “Why, my lad, it’s of no consequence,” said Jack. “You seem to think more of it than I do.” “But I want to see him,” replied Ralph. “I wonder if he is about here every day?” “Likely enough,” said Jack. “But I didn’t think you cared anything about the matter.” “Well, I’m thinking of that baby’s shoe,” answered Ralph. “It seems so queer--the way you got it, and the way you have kept it.” “I know that’s odd,” said Jack. “I suppose my keeping it is all nonsense.” “No, it isn’t,” said Ralph. “I don’t think it is, I’m sure.” “You believe a little in old shoes, then?” “I believe in _that_ shoe, Jack. I mean to go ashore with you, and have a good look for that man.”