He hated to have young folks around, and it was a mystery to the Rovers why he should occupy a position on a pleasure craft.
"He ought to be on a freight steamer," was Dick's comment--"some boat where he wouldn't meet anybody but those working under him.

I can't understand how the captain can bear him for his first assistant." "The owner of the steam yacht hired him," answered Mr.Rover.

"I believe the captain does not like him any more than we do.

But the mate does his duty faithfully, so the captain cannot find fault." Another individual the boys did not like was Bill Bossermann, the assistant engineer.

Bossermann was a burly German, with the blackest of hair and a heavy black beard and beady black eyes.