"I suppose he didn't have the money." "Then why didn't the man get the things he wanted, and have them charged?" "That's a good one," laughed Bonny. "Because the storekeeper wouldn't trust him, of course." "I never heard of such a thing," declared Alaric, indignantly. "I thought people could always have things charged if they wanted to. I'm sure I never found any trouble in doing it." "Didn't you?" said Bonny. "Well, I have, then," and he spoke so queerly that Alaric realized in a moment that he had very nearly betrayed his secret. Hastening to change the subject, he asked: "If you took the mate's place, who took yours?" "Nobody has taken it yet, and that's what I'm after now--hunting for a new hand. The Captain couldn't come himself, because he's got rheumatism so bad that it's all he can do to crawl out on deck and back again. Besides, it's the first mate's place to ship the crew, anyhow." "Then," asked Alaric, excitedly, "why don't you take me? I'll work hard, and do anything you say." "You?" cried Bonny, regarding his companion with amazement. "Have you ever sailed a boat or helped work a vessel?" "No," replied Alaric, humbly; "but I am sure I can learn, and I shouldn't expect any pay until I did." "I should say not," remarked the first mate of the _Fancy_, "though most greenhorns do. Still, that is one thing in your favor. Another is that you can catch a ball as well as any fellow I ever knew, and a chap who can do that can learn to do most anything. So I really have a great mind to take you on trial." "Do you think the Captain will agree to it?" asked Alaric, anxiously. "Of course he will, if I say so," said Bonny Brooks, confidently; "for, as I just told you, the first mate always hires the crew." CHAPTER VI. PREPARING TO BE A SAILOR. During the conversation just recorded the boys by no means neglected their luncheon, for both of them had been very hungry, and by the time they arrived at an understanding in regard to Alaric's engagement not a crumb of food nor a drop of milk was left before them. While to Bonny Brooks this had proved a most welcome and enjoyable repast, to Alaric it marked a most important era of his life. To begin with, it was the first meal he had ever paid for out of his own pocket, and this alone was sufficient to give it a flavor that he had never discovered in the rich food by which his appetite had heretofore been tempted.