About half an hour after Mr. Dunn had sent Nat into the hold the purser began to wonder what kept the boy. He knew his task should not have taken him more than ten minutes, for Nat was prompt with whatever he had to do.
"I hope he isn't going to do the way one boy did I used to have," said the purser to himself, "go down there and sleep. I think I'll take a look. Maybe he can't find those bales, though they were in plain sight."
As he started toward the hatchway, down which Nat had gone, he met Captain Marshall, who, as was his custom, was taking a stroll about the ship, to see that everything was all right. He never trusted entirely to his officers.
When he saw the purser, Mr. Marshall came to a sudden stop, and began to sniff the air suspiciously.
"Don't you smell smoke, Mr. Dunn?" he asked.
The purser took several deep breaths.
"I certainly do," he replied, "and it seems to come from this hatch. I sent Nat down there a while ago, to check off some bales."
"I hope he isn't smoking cigarettes down there," said the captain quickly. "If he is, I'll discharge him instantly."
"Nat doesn't smoke," replied Mr. Dunn. "But it's queer why he stays down there so long. I'm going to take a look."
"I'll go with you," decided the captain.