“Well, if this is your way of thinking, you have only to clap your name to the articles, and take your lay.”

“Ay, ay, sir; when I’ve seed my shipmates.  There isn’t the business under the sun that so much needs that every man should be true, as the sea-elephant trade.  Smaller animals may be got along with, with a narvous crew, perhaps; but when it comes to the raal old bulls, or bull-dogs, as a body might better call ’em, give me stout hearts, as well as stout hands.”

’Well, now, to my notion, Watson, it is less dangerous to take a sea-elephant than to fasten to a regular old bull-whale, that may be has had half a dozen irons in him already.”

“Yes, sir, that’s sometimes skeary work, too; though I don’t think so much of a whale as I do of a sea-elephant, or of a sea-lion.  ’Let me know my shipmates,’ say I, ‘on a sealin’ expedition.’”

“Captain Gar’ner,” said the deacon, who necessarily overheard this discourse, “you ought to know at once whether this man is to go in the schooner or not.  The mates believe he is, and may come across from the main without a hand to take his place should he leave us.  The thing should be settled at once.”

“I’m willing to come to tarms this minute,” returned Watson, as boldly as if he were perfectly sincere; “only let me understand what I undertake.  If I know’d to what islands the schooner was bound, it might make a difference in my judgment.”

This was a well-devised question of the spy’s, though it failed of its effect, in consequence of the deacon’s great caution in not having yet told his secret, even to the master of his craft.  Had Gardiner known exactly where he was about to go, the desire to secure a hand as valuable as Watson might have drawn from him some imprudent revelation; but knowing nothing himself, he was obliged to make the best answer he could.

“Going,” he said; “why, we are going after seals, to be sure; and shall look for them where they are most to be found.  As experienced a hand as yourself ought to know where that is.”

“Ay, ay, sir,” answered the fellow, laughing—­“it’s just neither here nor there—­that’s all.”

“Captain Gar’ner,” interrupted the deacon, solemnly, “this is trifling, and we must come to terms with this man, or write to Mr. Hazard to engage another in his place.  Come ashore, sir; I have business with you up at the house.”

The serious manner in which this was uttered took both the captain and the man a little by surprise.  As for the first, he went below to conceal his good-looking throat beneath a black handkerchief, before he followed the deacon where it was most probable he should meet with Mary.  While he was thus occupied, Watson came down out of the main-rigging and descended into the forecastle.  As the young captain was walking fast towards the dwelling of Deacon Pratt, Watson came on deck again, and hailed Baiting Joe, who was fishing at no great distance from the wharf.  In