66 ALL ABOARD FOR SUNRISE LANDS.

investigated the merits of several candidates. One though was pro-

nounced “dirty.” A second had a “squeaky voice,’ an infirmity not

generally favorable to yarn-tellng. “Crosser than pison,” was the

comment on a third. The fifth day out, Rick said mysteriously to Ralph,

“JT have found him; Come!” Rick led Ralph away and pointed out a

grizzled via tar who was coiling up a rope, his back tured to the boys.
“ Ain’t he chuncky?” whispered Rick.

?

Suddenly, the “chuncky” sailor tuned. He had a big head, or as
Ralph told Rick, “He spread a good deal of sail in his face.” The
lower part of his face was fringed with a gray beard, and he carried at
the neck a black kerchief, with immense ends. Under the heavy eye-
brows of gray, there were two kindly lights that twinkled. “Blue
lights,” Ralph called them, “like those that a feller in trouble on the
water at night would be glad to see. Something like a lighthouse.”

“ Hullo, boson!” the sailor sang out to Rick. “ You here again?”

This title, “boson,” tickled Rick.

' “Ves, sir; and here’s my brother Ralph.”

 

Ralph held out his hand; “‘ How do you do, Mr. ” he hesitated,
not knowing what to call this big lump of salt pork.

“ Bobstay! Jack Bobstay, that’s my name for young folks, and Jack
is glad to see you.”

“ And what is it for old folks?” asked Rick. :

“ Ah, no matter about them. In this case they are not to be taken
into account. What my name may be, don’t make the difference of a
button on a mermaid’s best go-to-meeting gown. Jack Bobstay at your
service!”

Here the old sailor made a low bow.

Ralph and Rick were delighted with Jack Bobstay, and they eagerly
introduced him to Uncle Nat, Siah and Joe Pigtail. The Rogers brothers
felt that their circle of acquaintance was widening.