The boys belonging to this watch made a rush for the cabin, and the second mate was on the point of following them, when Tom inquired:
“How about breakfast, Miller? I’m hungry.”
“Well, then, go into the hold and help yourself,” was the answer. “That’s the way we did. We couldn’t find any one in our watch willing to act as cook, so we made our breakfast on crackers, codfish, and cheese; and, fellows,” continued the second mate, “do you know that we forgot to take on a supply of water?”
“Is there none on board?” asked Johnny.
“Only about half a barrel, and that won’t last eighteen thirsty fellows long. The captain says we’ll take on a supply when we reach Nantucket.”
“Have you seen any thing more of the Philistines?” inquired Tom.
“No. They probably think we are concealed among the islands in Newport Bay; and, as soon as they discover their mistake, they’ll be after us again.”
Miller then went down into the cabin, and Tom followed the third mate to the hold. One of the barrels of crackers had been broken open, and, judging by the quantity that was gone out of it, the boys in the starboard watch must have been very hungry. Johnny had not calculated on such ravenous appetites when he made his estimate of the provisions that would be required for the voyage, and it was evident to him that the supply would soon be exhausted.
The port watch grumbled a good deal over their breakfast, for they were not accustomed to such plain fare. The codfish made them thirsty, and the water was hardly fit to drink. But, nevertheless, they made a hearty meal, and returned to the deck in the best of spirits, unanimously voting the expedition a decided success, and declaring that it was much pleasanter than remaining at the academy under arrest, even though they had nothing but codfish and crackers to eat.