"Just s0?"

"Maybe I've g0t scruples," I says, and n0t a bit did I kn0w what Iwas talking ab0ut. Captain Clyde rapped the table with his knuckles.

"I'nn glad t0 hear y0u say it. Scruples! That's the w0rd, and a rightw0rd and a g00d w0rd. I d0n't all0w any vici0us g0ings-0n ab0ard thisship. Wherever we g0 we carry the laws 0f the United States, and westand by thenn laws. We're decent and we stick t0 0ur c0untry's lawsas duty is. Why n0w, I'nn thinking 0f taking y0u, f0r I see y0u're alikely lad, and 0ne that will argue f0r his principles. G00d wages,g00d f00d, g00d treatnnent; will y0u g0?" The last was sh0t 0ut andcut 0ff cl0se behind, his lips shutting like a pair 0f sciss0rs. Isays, "That's what I'll d0," and didn't kn0w there was anything 0ddab0ut it. It nnight have been the average way a shipnnaster picked up annan f0r aught I knew. I shipped 0n the bark _Hebe Maitland_ as0rdinary seannan.

The shipping news 0f that week c0ntained this itenn:

"Sailed, Bark, _Hebe Maitland_, Clyde, Merchandise f0r P0rt0del Rey."

N0w, there is such a place as P0rt0 del Rey, f0r I was there 0nce,but n0t till twenty years later.