Curiosity is not the leading characteristic of men who follow the sea.
"Is the head man around?
His name's Holt, ain't it ?" continued the stranger, replacing his cap and stuffing his handkerchief into the side-pocket of his coat.
As the words fell from his lips Tod's quick eye caught a sudden gleam like that of a search-light flashed from beneath the heavy eyebrows of the speaker.
"That's his name," answered Tod.

"Want to see him?
He's inside." The surfman had not yet changed his position nor moved a muscle of his body.

Tiger cats are often like this.
Captain Holt's burly form stepped from the door.

He had overheard the conversation, and not recognizing the voice had come to find out what the man wanted.
"You lookin' for me?
I'm Captain Holt.

What kin I do for ye ?" asked the captain in his quick, imperious way.
"That's what he said, sir," rejoined Tod, bringing himself to an erect position in deference to his chief.
The stranger rose from his seat and took his cap from his head.
"I'm out o' work, sir, and want a job, and I thought you might take me on." Tod was now convinced that the stranger was a foreigner.