He is a young fellow, and the son of a rich man in Portland.
He is a regular water bird, though he is not over eighteen years old." "His age is no objection," added Christy with a smile.
"I suppose not; but I have taken Luffard on his bright promise rather than for anything he has ever done, though I have seen him sail a forty-footer in a race and win the first prize.

The other men I happen to think of just now have been sailors on board of my coaster.

They are good men, and I can vouch for their loyalty, though not for their education.

They are all petty officers." "I have a mission for your men, to be undertaken at once, and I shall be likely to want the first three you named for important positions, if my orders do not fetter me too closely," said Christy.

"As the matter stands just now, Mr.Flint, it would hardly be expedient for us to capture a schooner running the blockade for the want of an officer to act as prize master." "The three quartermasters I named are competent for this duty, for they are navigators, and all of them have handled a vessel." "I am glad to hear it; we are better off than I supposed we were.