"Where can I find Captain Gary?" he asked at length of a porter who happened to be lounging near.
The negro inspected Ralph from head to foot, then demanded: "Do he stop yere?"
"Yes. I have a letter for him."
"Oh! Dat all is it?" The porter had found it hard to reconcile Ralph"s appearance with any other connection with a guest of the hotel than a menial one. "Yo" go right up to de office over dar and gin it to the clerk. He see Cap"n Gary gits um."
"But--but I have to see the captain myself," urged Ralph.
"What yo" reckon a gen"lemun like he wanter sech a boy as you? Huh?"
Ralph felt that his clothes were against him, but he did not propose to be bullied by a servant and a negro at that.
"Look here," said he. "I want to see Captain Gary and I"m going to see him, too. I"ve got business with him--d"ye understand?"
"Well den," replied the porter insolently, "s"posen yo" find where he is yo"self."
Ralph, without another word, marched straight to the clerk"s desk.
CHAPTER X.
The Captain Talks With Ralph.
Ralph"s previous diffidence disappeared under the flush of anger aroused by the porter"s words.
"Mister," said he addressing the stylish looking clerk, who at first barely glanced at the lad, "I was sent here from Columbia to see a man who stops here called Captain Gary. That n.i.g.g.e.r over there, when I asked him where the man was, told me to hunt him up myself. I never was in your tavern before. How can I find him, I"d like to know?"
Before Ralph had concluded, the clerk was inspecting his person curiously. Ralph again thought of his clothes.
"I don"t look very stylish," said he, "and I know it; but I"ve got business with Captain Gary all the same."
"Front!" called the clerk, without addressing Ralph.
A smart mulatto boy, uniformed in blue and red, sprang from a bench where several others similarly clad were seated.
"Show this--this person to forty nine," directed the clerk, then turned to another inquirer as if he had already forgotten Ralph"s existence.
"There"s one thing certain," thought the lad, as he followed the call boy down a long hall, up one flight of stairs and into a richly carpeted corridor, "we mountain folks can beat these city dudes on manners, if we can"t in anything else."
The boy knocked at a door and a voice almost feminine in musical softness bade them "Come in."
"Some one to see yo", suh," said the messenger, pushing Ralph inside and closing the door.
The mountain youth found himself alone with a slender, exceedingly handsome man, so slight of figure and fair in complexion as to fully bear out in his appearance the womanly resemblance suggested by his voice.
He was dressed in a walking suit of a subdued gray tint, with patent leather gaiters, and his hands were white, while his fingers sparkled with one or two jeweled rings. His linen was spotless and in his lemon colored neck tie shone a large diamond.
He was reclining in an easy chair, smoking a cigarette, and as he languidly surveyed Ralph, the boy felt that here was a sea captain different from those he had read of or imagined.
"Well, my lad, what is it you want of me?" inquired the man.
"My name is Ralph Granger. I have a letter for you from Captain Shard.
He said you would understand."
Gary took the missive which Ralph now produced, opened it, and glanced through it carelessly, then extended his hand.
"Glad to see you," said he softly. "So you want to try the sea, eh?
Well, any one coming from my cousin Shard is always sure of a welcome from me."
Here he smiled very sweetly and waved his beringed fingers. "Stand more in the light, please. I want to take a good look at you, Ralph."
As he inspected the boy from under his half closed lashes, his eyes shone curiously.
"Now, Ralph," continued he with lazy cordiality, as if he had known the youth for weeks instead of minutes, "what do you know about a sailor"s life?"
"I don"t know anything, except--except,"--Ralph hesitated.
"Well?" suggested the captain inquiringly, and with an enchanting smile.
"I"ve read a book or two about sea life and ships, and all that.
Outside of that I ain"t posted."
"I see. Did you bring any kit along?"
"What"s that, sir?"
"Outfit, clothes, baggage, you know."
"I"ve got a bundle of clothes down at the car shed."
"Ah--yes." The captain reflected a moment.
"My boatswain is to be here at eleven sharp. I guess you had better go aboard with him."
"Go where, sir?"
"Down to the ship. We call it going aboard, you see," and once more Captain Gary smiled with almost infantile amiability. "Been to breakfast? Yes? Well, then, suppose you take a stroll about and see the town. Don"t get lost, and be sure and be back by eleven. My room is forty nine; can you recollect that?"
Ralph thought he could, and was about to withdraw when the captain pulled out a silver dollar.
"You may need a little spending money," said he. "Only I hope you won"t buy tobacco. Lads of your age, you know, are best without it, and as for cards----"
Ralph hastened to a.s.sure him that he not only did not smoke or gamble, but that he had some money of his own.
"Take this, however. We will call it a slight advance on your wages."