"See that man ?" He pointed to a thin, dismal-looking man, standing a yard or two away, who was trying to appear unconscious of their scrutiny.
[Illustration: "He pointed to a thin, dismal-looking man."] "Peter Duckett," said Brisket, in the same satisfied whisper.
Mr.Stobell, ever willing for a free show, stared at the dismal man and groped in the recesses of his memory.

The name seemed familiar.
"The man who ate three dozen hard-boiled eggs in four minutes ?" he asked, with a little excitement natural in the circumstances.
Captain Brisket stared at him.

"No; Peter Duckett, the finest mate that ever sailed," he said, with a flourish.

"We're lucky to have the chance of getting him, I can tell you.

To see him handle sailormen is a revelation; to see him handle a ship----" He broke off and shook his head with the air of a man who despaired of doing justice to his subject.