My first work was to pull open the drawer of the cabin table. I found it full of charts and nautical instruments, accompanied by the log-book. There was also, stuffed in one corner, the ship's articles, and opening it, I discovered my name at the very end, written in a rough hand, entirely different from my own.
This was evidently the captain's or Lowell's work, and it was on the strength of it that the two hoped to clear themselves. The fact that I was a minor had not entered into their calculations.
I put the articles back into the drawer and closed it. Then I looked around to see in what direction to continue the search.
In one corner was a closet. I opened it, but found it contained nothing but bottles of liquor and medicine, the former predominating. I closed the closet and then wondered what I should attack next.
While meditating I heard footsteps on the companionway. It was Captain Hannock descending, and I had hardly time to slip behind a curtain that led to one of the staterooms when he entered.
"Confound the boy, I wonder what has become of him?" I heard him mutter. "Foster!" he called out.
I made no sound. The captain stood still for a moment.
"Lowell must have been mistaken. The young cub would never dare to come down here on his own hook."
And with this comment and a final glance around, Captain Hannock left the cabin and mounted to the deck.
I breathed more freely when he was gone. I had had a narrow escape. Had he looked in the stateroom I would have surely been discovered.