122 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

indeed if he had not felt very proud at having thus so
suddenly and decidedly bettered his prospects in life.

On the passenger steamer bound for Macao he met the
man who was recommended by the agents for the position
of first mate, and felt quite satisfied he would be pleased
with this assistant.

Jacob Bean was the mate’s name, and a typical Yankee
he was.

A young man, not more than four years Ben’s senior,
and one who had the reputation of understanding his
business thoroughly.

“Ts this your first voyage as chief mate?” Ben asked
him when they had been introduced.

“Yes, sir.”

« And it is mine as captain, so there will be two green
ones together.”

“Tt would not be safe to call you green, sir, after what
I hear you did around Nampang Island, and if all the
agents say is true, I am mighty lucky to have gotten in
with such a captain. Grit and sand are what I like, and
there isn’t a man in Hong Kong to-day who won’t say
you have got plenty of that kind of stock in trade.”

«Well, you see, Mr. Bean, it’s just likely all the stories
you heard about me may not be true.”

“We'll admit it, sir, and yet the fact remains that the
brig is at Macao, and was brought there by you, with
only three pirates as a crew. That was a pretty bold
stroke, setting those fellows at work after you had cap-
tured them.”