“I don’t know,” Duff replied.
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
Duff put his hand to his forehead. “I had a great deal to drink last night,” he said. “I remember leaving the pub, then I remember nothing until I woke up on this ship this morning. Methinks some of my friends may have played a trick on me.”
“I think we had best see the captain,” Norton said. “Come with me.”
“Aye, such was my request,” Duff replied. “I would like to purchase passage to New York.”
“How did you know this ship was going to New York?”
Duff had heard the sailor on watch the night before say that the ship was bound for New York, but he could not say that or he would give away the fact that he was aware last night that he was onboard.
“I don’t know that you are,” he replied. “I know that many of the ships that leave from the Firth of Clyde are bound for New York. I assumed that was so with this ship. Have I erred in my assumption?”
“No, we’re going to New York, all right,” Mr. Norton said. “Come with me.”
Captain Powell drummed his fingers on the taffrail and glared down from the quarterdeck at Duff and his bosun.
“Who have we here, Mr. Norton?” he asked.
“We found him aboard this morning, Captain.”
“What is your name, stowaway?” Captain Powell asked. It was obvious from the tone of his voice and the expression on his face that he was displeased with seeing Duff.
“The name is MacCallister, Captain. And ’twas not my intention to stow away,” Duff replied.
“It was not your intention to stow away? Then, pray tell, MacCallister, how is it that you are on my ship?”
“I was drinking with some friends,” Duff said. He put his hand to his forehead. “I woke up on the ship this morning. They must have thought it good sport to put me here.”
“It matters not how you came aboard. The point is, you are aboard, and that makes you a stowaway.”
“I’ve nae wish to be a stowaway. I have enough money to pay for my passage, and would be happy to do so,” Duff said.
“That might be good if we were a passenger-carrying ship,” Captain Powell replied. “But we are not. We are a merchant ship, and you are unwanted cargo.”
“What shall I do with him, sir?” Norton asked.
“Confine him to the brig for the duration of the voyage,” Captain Powell said. “When we reach New York, we will give him an opportunity to buy passage back to Scotland.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” Norton said. He started toward Duff, then paused, and turned back to the captain. “Cap’n, if you would permit a suggestion?”
“You may do so.”
“Peters did not return to the ship ’ere we weighed anchor. We are short one man in the starboard watch. Perhaps . . .”
“You would replace Peters with the stowaway?” Captain Powell asked.
“Aye, sir, if you be willing,” Norton said.
“Have you ever been to sea, MacCallister? Could you do the work of an AB?”
“I’ve been to sea, Captain, and fare well without becoming sick. I have never worked as a sailor, but I learn quickly.”
“From your dress, you have the appearance of a man of means,” Captain Powell said. “Are you a wealthy man, MacCallister?”
“I have land and livestock,” MacCallister replied, but even as he was saying the words, he realized that he would never see either again.
“Would you feel the work of an able-bodied seaman beneath a man of your station?” Captain Powell asked.
“Captain, as you have pointed out, and as I readily admit, I am a stowaway on your ship. My alternative to working, it would appear, would be to spend the entire voyage in the brig. I would consider honest labor to be far superior to that condition.”
Captain Powell laughed out loud.
“Very well, MacCallister, you may work for your passage. Mr. Norton, assign him to the starboard watch. Did Peters leave his chest?”
“Aye, sir, he did.”
“MacCallister, you are a bit taller than Peters, and a bit broader in the shoulders I would say. But I think you could wear his clothes. I advise you to do so, for your current attire is ill suited for the task at hand.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Duff replied.
“Mr. Norton, take MacCallister below, get him properly dressed, then muster the crew.”
“Aye, aye, Cap’n.”
It was dim belowdecks, though not entirely dark as the sun filtered down through the hatch above, falling in
