UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS
years. He used to run clippers, chiefly in the North Pacific trade."
"Hallard, Hallard," said the captain, rubbing his chin reflectively. "I seem to remember the name somehow. It's a long time since I traded out of America to China, but the name seems familiar. What is his given name?"
"Andrew."
Suddenly the captain glanced at the boy with a gleam of amusement in his eyes.
"Did you ever hear him speak of a clipper called the Bessie M. Dobbs?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," said Dave. "That was the boat that he made a record run in."
"Bless my soul!" exclaimed Captain Phelps. "Why, I was in 'Frisco when the Bessie M. Dobbs shot through the Golden Gate on her thirty-fifth day out of Hong Kong."
"Thirty-third day, sir," said Dave, never likely to be inaccurate about that little bit of family history.
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