He now understood something of the situation.
"I'll leave you here a while," went on the commander to the boy.
"You can look about a bit while I go below and work on my manifest.
Mr.Carr will tell you anything you want to know." But Bob was so interested in watching the sailors at work stowing away the cargo, while others were cleaning various parts of the ship, that he did not ask many questions.
All the rest of that day the loading went on.

Bob and the captain went ashore for their meals, as the commander had some business to attend to in the port, but Bob spent that night in his bunk.

It was the first time he had ever slept in a ship's berth, and he rather liked the novelty.
The next day the loading was rapidly proceeded with, and by noon all the cargo was stowed away.
Captain Spark was below in his cabin, making out the final papers and waiting for his clearance documents from the harbor master.

Mr.
Carr and his assistants were busy getting the _Eagle_ ready to sail, while Bob stood near the rail, watching with curious eyes everything that was going on.
While he stood there he saw a short, stout, pale-faced man coming up the gangplank.

The man carried a valise in each hand, while behind him walked a 'longshoreman with a trunk on his shoulder.
"Now, my man, be very careful of that trunk," urged the short, stout, pale man.