I can't think how the owners ever appointed Collet to the command; he is not one of their own officers.

But when Halford was taken suddenly ill I suppose they had no others at home to put in his place, so had to go outside.

My father said that Mr.Thompson had told him that they heard that he was a capital sailor, and I have no doubt he is.

He certainly handled her splendidly in that big storm we had rounding the Cape.

I suppose they did not inquire much farther, as we took no passengers out to San Francisco, and were coming out to pick up a cargo of hides here for the return journey; but he is a tyrant on board, and when I get back I will tell my father, and he will let Thompson know the sort of fellow Collet is.