By this time all the alleged shipwrecked men had laid aside their plates to gather around the leader, standing very near the captain in threatening attitudes, and, attracted by the noise, Mr. Jenkins came on deck.
Captain Mansfield looked squarely in the fellow’s face fully half-a-minute before he said:
“There is your supper. You will get no more to-night, and you are either to eat or throw it overboard. In addition, you will clean the deck at once.”
The man stood in an attitude of defiance, glancing now and then at his companions, but making no move toward obeying the orders; and Gil’s father, turning to the mate, said:
“Mr. Jenkins, if my instructions have not been carried out properly at the end of five minutes, throw this man overboard. Call all hands, including the boys, if you need assistance.”
Then the captain walked aft again, and the castaways began whispering among themselves as if trying to decide whether it would be safe to defy him.
Gil and Nelse stood near the wheel, where they could hear and see everything. Both wanted to go forward, but the former’s father checked them by saying, in a low tone:
“Remain where you are, unless Mr. Jenkins should call; in which case, you are to obey his orders implicitly.”
The mate was evidently making ready to carry out his instructions. All the men, save the man who had thrown the food, were sent back to the main hatch, and the young sailor was looking at his watch in an ominous manner.
The castaway muttered something which the boys could not understand; made a series of gestures to his companions, but, without receiving any reply, and then in a sulky manner began throwing the food overboard.