Bob looked around for a mat on which to wipe his feet.
The captain, seated at a desk, turned around in his chair, surveying the boys critically.
"You certainly are not very handsome to look at," was his comment, uttered in a gruff tone.
"No, sir, not very," admitted Steve, flushing as he looked down at his soiled clothes.
"Do we have to dress up on this ship?" demanded Jarvis, with some heat.
"You will have to do one thing--preserve a respectful attitude toward the commanding officer, and take orders without giving any back talk," replied the master, eyeing the boy sternly.
"Perhaps you think you are not, but you are."
"We are working, or going to work, on the 'Wanderer,'" answered Bob.
"That is what I am saying. This is the 'Wanderer.'"
"It looks that way, though you may change your minds before you've been aboard long. Which of you is which?"
They could not tell if the captain intended the words to be sarcastic, or whether he meant to be polite to them. They were rather inclined to the former opinion.
"When do we go to work?" demanded Jarvis.
"Now; at once. We don't have any lazybones on board this ship. Are you men strong?"
"Yes, sir; I think so," replied Steve, smiling.
"We can shovel anything that we are able to lift."
"Very well, then; I'll put you in the stoke hole."
"What kind of a hole is that?" questioned Jarvis.
"That is the place where the black-faced gang shovel the fuel under the boilers to make the ship move along."
"That's the scientific name. The common name is stoker. I'll send you down to the chief engineer, and he will give you a trick. You'll have to work like sixty, and if you don't you'll get off at the Soo and foot it back home," continued the skipper gruffly.
If Steve were disappointed, or objected to the work that had been assigned to them, he made no comment. Jarvis, however, made no secret of his displeasure. He grumbled under his breath, despite the warning looks directed at him by Steve Rush.
Captain Simms pushed a button, and a few minutes later a short man, clean shaven, red of face like the captain, entered.
"This is Mr. Major, the first mate. He is next in rank to the master. He will take you to the chief engineer for your assignment."
"I had nearly forgotten that. You will show the boys their cabin, Mr. Major."