Why, one of 'em is a short, thick-set fellow, and carries a silver whistle in the breast pocket of his shirt. The other is tall and slender, wears some kind of a badge on his arm—a petty officer's badge I took it to be—and has light hair and whiskers.

The man gave an accurate description of the missing sailors of whom Frank was in search. No doubt they had got into trouble and found their way into some station-house; and this fellow was some little pettifogger, who hoped to make a few dollars by helping them out.

I thought maybe you were looking for 'em, continued the man, as he turned to go away; but seeing you ain't, I am sorry I pestered you.

One moment, please, said Frank. Where are these men now?

They're aboard my ship.

O, you're a sailor, are you? exclaimed Frank, again running his eye over the man, who looked[66] about as much like a sailor as Dick Lewis did. What is the name of your ship, and where is she?

She's the Sunrise, and she is at anchor out here in the bay.

How came our men aboard of her?

Well, you see, they've got some friends and acquaintances among my crew, and when we were lying alongside the dock they came aboard to see them. While they were skylarking about, one of them, the boatswain, fell into the hold and broke his leg. We hauled out into the bay just after that, and did it in such a hurry—you see there was another ship waiting to take our berth at the dock as soon as we were out of it—that we didn't have time to put him ashore. We've had a doctor to see him, and maybe it would be a good plan to get an ambulance and take him back where he belongs.

I think so too, said Frank, who became interested at once; that is, if he can bear removal. But whatever we do, must be done at once. Our vessel is all ready to sail.

I guess he can stand it to be moved. You[67] might come aboard and see—you and your pardner here. I've got a boat close by.

Frank assenting to this proposition, he and Dick Lewis followed the man, who led the way along the wharf, and finally showed them a yawl manned by two oarsmen. They climbed down into it, their companion took his seat at the helm, and the boat was pushed off into the darkness. The man talked incessantly, answering all Frank's questions, and going so fully into the particulars of the accident that had befallen the boatswain's mate, and telling so straight and reasonable a story, that not a shadow of a doubt entered Frank's mind. He remarked that the ship was a long way from the wharf, and that the two men who were pulling the oars looked more like dock rats than sailors; but still he scarcely bestowed a second thought upon these matters, for his mind was fully occupied with the injured man to whose relief he was hastening. At last the hull and rigging of a ship loomed up through the darkness, and a hoarse voice hailed the yawl.