The big first mate, Carlos, rebuffed him repeatedly, but he persisted, and in time the rebuffs became less brusque.

He also noticed a certain softening of the sailors toward him.

His own charm of manner was so great that it was hard to resist it when it was continuously exerted, and sailors, like other men, appreciate help when it is given to them continuously.

The number of frowns for him decreased visibly.
He still ate at the captain's table, why he knew not, but the man seemed to fancy his company; perhaps there was no other on the schooner who was on a similar intellectual level, and he made the most of the opportunity to talk.
"Peter," he said, "you seem to have ingratiated yourself to a certain extent with my crew.

I'm bound to admit that you're a personable young rascal, with the best manners I've met in a long time, but I warn you that you can't go far.