“If you please, sir,” said Bob, touching his hat, “did the captain say anything to you about coals, for I expect we shall not stay here much longer?”
“No,” replied Mr Culpepper.
“Then he must have forgot it, I suppose sir.”
“Well, there’s plenty of coals,” replied Mr Culpepper.
“Well, sir, I don’t know; but I think I heard the cook’s mate say as how they were getting rather low.”
“Getting rather low! then there must have been great waste,” exclaimed Mr C, who was very careful of his expenses.
“I don’t know how far it may be so; but I think it might be as well to know how matters stand; and if so be there’s plenty, why I can tell Captain Delmar when I go on shore to-morrow.”
“I’ll see; I’ll go down myself to-night,” replied Mr Culpepper. “The midshipmen are allowed a stove to themselves—very unusual—and they are cooking all day.”
“Talking about midshipmen, sir,” replied Cross, “you may think it’s very odd but as I stand here—and you know, Mr Culpepper, I am not easily scared—I saw that young Tommy Dott, or his ghost, this very evening.”
It was now quite dark; and Mr Culpepper stared at the coxswain, and then replied, “Pooh, nonsense!”