He was about to hail the skiff when he was accosted by the quiet little man he had recently observed sitting alone in the corner of Swan's office.
"Pardon, but you are Captain Flanagan of the yacht _Laura_ ?" "Yessir," patiently.

"But the owner never lets anybody aboard he don't know, sir." "I do not desire to come aboard, my Captain.

What I wish to know is if his excellency the admiral is at home." "His excellency" rather confounded the captain for a moment; but he came about without "takin' more'n a bucketful," as he afterward expressed it to Halloran the engineer.

"I knew right then he wus a furriner; I know 'em.

They ain't no excellencies in th' navy.