"Oh, [i]now[/i] he's int'rested in openings!" crooked-nose crowed, waving his coffee cup. "Now that he's insulted us and the captain." Not at all mentioning that he, himself, had insulted the captain not long ago.

Baldie only maintained his patient smile. "Well, sure there are openings. The captain only recruits the best, which means to say that only the best get recruited. There aren't many to begin with who'll meet his standards, and even fewer who are willing to spend years of their lives on a ship bound for the unknown."

"To discover the edge of the world and live to tell the tale," crooked-nose sang. It wasn't quite clear what was mixed in with his coffee.

Baldie's smile grew just a bit smug. "So if you think you're good enough to sail on the [i]Annabella[/i], you'll have to pass the captain's test."

"The hat trick!" shouted crooked-nose with a crooked grin.

"Quite so," Baldie went on. "You'll have to first [i]find[/i] the captain, and then knock his hat off his head." Crooked-nose illustrated by flicking a finger over his own scalp. "Only then will he consider you for his crew."

"Pure and simple," crooked-nose agreed. He toasted the dusty, barefoot kid and tipped the rest of his coffee down the hatch.