His neat-fitting business suit had been removed and a dirty outfit, such as seamen wear, substituted in place of it.
Van no longer had any doubt as to his being aboard a ship.
He now saw plainly what caused the rocking motion.
But, instead of giving way to a fit of despair, as most boys of his age would have done in like circumstances, he calmly clambered from the bunk and proceeded to examine the costume he wore.
Unbuttoning a greasy, blue pea jacket, he found, to his great joy, that he still wore his own vest.
But on placing his hand in the inner pocket of the garment he found his pocket-book to be missing.
"I have been robbed and kidnaped!" he muttered in a tone of great vehemence; "and Doc Clancy is at the bottom of it—of that I am sure. But never mind! Though this vessel takes me to the very ends of the earth, I will yet get on the track of the villain who murdered my uncle, and then woe to him!"
Van uttered the last part of his thoughts in a rather loud voice, and he had scarcely done so when a gruff tone the other side of the partition sang out:
"What's ther matter there, ye cussed landlubber? Have ye come to yer senses yet?"
"Hello!" returned Van. "Who are you? Come in here; I would like to talk to you."