"Yes. The skipper is off to sea." "Oh, but you might find time for that. A man must eat. Ask the boss to give you leave." "Humph! I hardly like to ask him, as the time for sailing is so near; but well, there, I will." "That's right. Come and dine at the hotel just for a pleasant chat. Wish I'd been coming with you on your voyage." "I begin to wish you were," said the mate, smiling. "You'd have found me handy when you wanted to ask questions." The American looked at the speaker keenly, and then smiled. "I understand," he said. "So you think I ask a lot?" "Well, yes," said the mate, laughing. "You are pretty good at it." "I suppose so. Way I've got. Pick up knowledge that how. Seems to me the way to learn. Hullo! What are they doing with your ship?" "Warping her out again so as to be ready for dropping down when we start." "Is that better than going off from the wharf?" "Yes, a dear; but excuse me: there's the skipper yonder. I'll go and tell him I want to be off for a few hours." "You do," said the American, "and you'll find me here when you come back." "If the skipper knows where I want to go," thought the mate, "he'll say no directly, for he hates that Yankee, so I won't say anything about him. Not a bad sort of fellow when you come to know him; but of all the inquisitive Paul Prys I ever met he's about the worst. Never mind: he has asked me to dinner, and I'll go." The next minute the mate was face to face with Captain Banes. "Ah, Lynton," cried the skipper, "there you are, then. Got the gentlemen's tackle and things on board?" "Yes, sir, all on board." "That's right. We shall drop down the river about one; so see that all's right." "All is right, sir, and I want you to spare me for three or four hours." "Spare you to-night?" "Yes. I want to dine with a friend." The skipper raised his eyebrows and stared. "Want to dine with a friend? Why--oh, well, I'm not going to imitate that Yankee and ask questions about what doesn't concern me. I was going to ask you to join us in the cabin, to meet the gentlemen; but that will do another time. Yes, of course, Lynton, and I wish you a pleasant evening; but no nonsense: I sail at the time I told you." "And if I'm not back you'll sail without me?" "That's right." "No fear, sir," said the mate. "I know there isn't, my lad, or I should have said no. I'll tell Dellow to send a boat ashore for you at ten." The skipper walked off leaving the mate looking after him and frowning. "He needn't have been so nasty about it. But he wouldn't sail without me if I were not back."