“Yes, sir,” the mate replied, “that’s about the time, sir.”
“Ah! well,” the captain said, “she is sure to float then, and there are no signs of your storm coming.”
“There is hardly a breath of wind now, sir, but you never know in these latitudes where it may come on to blow from next.”
The cheerful way in which McBain talked reassured our heroes, and towards eleven o’clock English Ralph spoke as follows,—
“Look here, boys—”
“There isn’t a bit of good looking in the dark, is there?” said Allan.
“Well,” continued Ralph, “figuratively speaking, look here; I don’t see the good of sticking up on deck in the cold. We’re not doing an atom of good; let us go below and finish our supper.”
“Right,” said Allan; “and mind you, that poor girl is below there all this time. She may want some refreshment.”
When they entered the saloon they found it empty, deserted as far as human beings were concerned. Polly the cockatoo was there, no one else.
“Well?” said the bird, inquiringly, as she helped herself to an enormous mouthful of hemp-seed. “Well?”