"Then as soon as it's dusk, young gentleman, I'll have the star lit up. It's of no particular use except as a bow-light, but it looks mighty pretty, as good as the fireworks you've let off on fifth o' Novembers many a time, I'll be bound." "Ha! ha! ha!" roared the doctor, turning to Jack merrily. "I!" cried the lad, impatiently, and giving the captain a scornful look; "I never let off a firework in my life." "I have," said the captain dryly, "many a one, and made them too. But boys--some of 'em--are a bit different to what they were when I was young." "Oh, they're the same as ever, captain," said Sir John, smiling thoughtfully, as if in recollection of the past. "As a rule, a boy is a boy, but no rule is without an exception, you know." "That's right, sir." "And my son has been delicate, and has always led a studious, indoor life." "Ah, I see, sir, and now you are going to let him rough it a bit, and make a man of him." "Yes, a healthy man," said the doctor. "Ah, doctor," said the captain merrily, "there's a beautifully fitted medicine-chest in that cupboard, with plenty of physic and books of instructions for that, and a bit of surgery; and I've had to dabble in it a little myself. We captains often have to do that out away abroad. Why, sir," he continued, with a queer humorous look at Jack, "I'd back myself to give a pill to any man against all the doctors in Christendom." Jack looked disgusted. "But," said the captain, "I was going to say, if our young friend here goes off with his father on a voyage, he won't want you or any other doctor, sir." "And a good job too, captain," cried Doctor Instow, "for I like a bit of travel and rest as well as any man. But you are quite right. It is what I prescribed. Two or three years' voyage and travel." "Well, gentlemen," said the captain, as they rose from the lunch-table; "Mr Ensler wished everything to be straightforward and above-board; is there anything else I can show you?" "Well, yes," said Sir John, after exchanging glances once more with the doctor; "I have come down on purpose to inspect this yacht, and I should feel obliged if you would show me over it again." "Certainly, sir," said the captain bluffly; "I have nothing else to do, I'm sorry to say. Here I am at your service." "And in the evening," continued Sir John, "I hope you will give me the pleasure of your company to dinner at the hotel." "Well, sir," said the captain, in rather a hesitating way, "I'm not much of a dining-out sort of man, and besides, I should like you to go about the town a bit, and make a few inquiries about me and my principal and the yacht. Seaside people are pretty knowing, and you'll soon hear a boat's character if you begin to ask questions." "Oh yes, of course," said Sir John; "but we should like to know a little more of you personally, Captain Bradleigh."