“Nay, nay, laddie. That’ll make us square. Now then, what’s the young skipper got to say?”
“The sooner the better, Camel, for he’s half-starved; but you are to keep a bit hot for Mr Burgess.”
“Ou, ay,” said the Camel, smiling. “I never forget the mate. He wadna let me if I would.”
The two lads watched anxiously for the return of the boat, but in vain, and then, in answer to the summons, went reluctantly below as far as their minds were concerned, but with wondrous willingness on the part of their bodies, to join the skipper over a capital meal, which was hastily discussed, and then the trio went on deck to where the men were keeping watch, and ordered them to go below.
“Get your dinner, lads, as quickly as you can, and then come up again. We’ll keep watch until you do.”
They took their places aft at once, and the watch began, lasting till, headed by the boatswain, the men hurried up again, looking inquiringly in the faces of those they relieved; but they looked in vain, for nothing had been seen of the cutter, and quite an hour had passed when she came round the bend, being rowed swiftly, for the mate to hail the skipper and make the announcement—
“They have gone right back to the gunboat, and I waited till they were run up to the davits, and then came back. Is there anything we can have to eat?”