I'll gie ye my word I'm after no harm." I was taken aback, but thought it well to keep up my position, which appeared to be one of advantage.

The young man (for it was a youngster's voice) was evidently no ship's officer.

If he were a dockyard pilferer, it was a nuisance, and a complication in my affairs, but I might pull through the difficulty with presence of mind.
"Speak low!" I whispered sharply.

"What's your name, and where do you come from ?" "Alister Auchterlay, they call me" (the whisper was a reluctant one, but I jogged his arm rather fiercely to shake the truth out of him).

"I come from Aberdeenshire.