H. Bedford-Jones

“ If I had known that you were——”
“Never mind all that,” she said quietly, her eyes still searching his face. “Yes, I can see that you are different. Surely you are not the second mate of whom Mr. Garrity spoke?”
A tide of color suffused Venable’s face. He could not lie to this woman—to those eyes.
“Yes,” he said. “I am the man, but—”
“Leave it to me, ma’am,” spoke up Garrity suddenly, stepping forward. “You’ve got a skipper and first officer that are drunk this blessed minute—and you can’t get no others. ”

“ Stormalong we need, and need bad, him bein’ a friend; for I misdoubt that this is no pleasure voyage we’re goin’.”
“Won't there be trouble when the captain finds I’m an impostor?” demanded Venable, laughing despite himself at Garrity’s whimsical tone.
“There will,” said Garrity, “if he’s any sort o’ skipper, but chances are, he aint. There’s too big a demand for skippers these days, d’ye mind, to let good men be rustin’ out their souls in Asian ports—and that’s the truth! She’s got skipper an’ mate, says she; most like, she got ’em both together, same as us. Mark me, Parson! ”

“ Venable, who knew nothing about the Kum Chao except the very little that Garrity had vouchsafed him, translated his friend’s statement that they would be aboard at eight bells to-morrow afternoon. To this Paul bowed and departed.
“Who’s the old gentleman?” inquired Venable.
“Answers the door for the lady who owns the ship,” said Garrity, and reached for his cap. “Come along, now! She wrote that she was weighing anchor after midnight to-morry night, and wanted me to supply what crew and officers she lacked. We’ll need a full engine-room force, and you’ll be second mate of the hooker, Parson.” ”