"where Angels Fear to Tread" And Other Stories of the Sea

a good crew," he continued; "we'lljust tally 'em off, and then you can sign my receipt. The captain'll bedown with the pilot this afternoon.""I'm the mate--yes," said the giant; "but what dry-goods store did youraid for that crowd? Did the captain pick 'em out?""A delegation o' parsons," muttered the short, broad man,contemptuously."No, they're not parsons," said the shipping-master, as he turned tothe man, the slightest trace of a smile on his seamy face. "You're Mr.Becker, the second mate, I take it; you'll find 'em all right, sir.They're sailors, and good ones, too. No, Mr. Jackson, the skipperdidn't pick 'em--just asked me for sixteen good men, and there you are.Muster up to the capstan here, boys," he called, "and be counted."As they grouped themselves amidships with their clothes-bags, theshipping-master beckoned the chief mate over to the rail."You see, Mr. Jackson," he said, with a backward glance at the men,"I've only played the regular dodge on 'em. They've all got thesailor's bug in their heads and want to go coasting; so I told 'em thiswas a coaster." --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.