Such a string of connected sentences was a rare occurrence.
It argued that the "chief" was not unwilling to indulge in reminiscence.
"Why do you consider Captain Courtenay so fortunate?" she asked,
flushing somewhat at the guile which lay behind the question.
"Huh," snorted Boyle, amazed that even a slip of a girl should need
informing on so obvious a fact. "Don't you call it luck to be given
command of a ship like the _Kansas_ at his age? An' to get five
hundred pounds an' a gold chronometer because the skipper of the
_Florida_ was too full to hold on to the bridge? You mark my words.
He'll be made commodore of the fleet after he pulls the _Kansas_ out of
this mess."
"What happened to the _Florida_?"
"Haven't you heard that yarn? Bless my soul, she was our crack ship.
She broke her shaft in a gale, an' the skipper was washed
overboard--you always tell lies about deaders, you know--so A. C. just
waded in an' saved the whole outfit, passengers an' all."
"But he has had reverses, too. He was in the Royal Navy, I have been
told, and he had to give it up because his people--"
"More luck.
Pages:
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194