Here they are all ready for you." And turning to a pile of agreements lying at his elbow he took up the topmost of them.

From where I stood I could read the words: "Ship _Ferndale_" written in a large round hand on the first page.
"No, Mr.Powell, they aren't ready, worse luck," says that skipper.

"I've got to ask you to strike out my second officer." He seemed excited and bothered.

He explained that his second mate had been working on board all the morning.

At one o'clock he went out to get a bit of dinner and didn't turn up at two as he ought to have done.