Ten minutes later Ned had forgotten that anything odd or unusual had been said, so interested was he in his work.
The cabin was in a shockingly dirty condition, and he resolved to put it so thoroughly to rights that the captain could not fail to be pleased at having hired such an industrious boy.
He had had no breakfast; but the loss of a meal was something to which he was accustomed, having missed more than he got while on shore, therefore this trifling matter did not disturb him.
When noon came he had not finished, and the cook insisted that he stop until dinner should be served.
As a matter of course he obeyed, and was assisting in laying the table when the captain entered.
“Is this what you call cleaning the cabin?” he cried in a rage, pointing to a pile of dirt which Ned had left in one corner until he finished sweeping.
“I only stopped to help set the table, sir,” Ned replied promptly, little thinking there could be any cause for complaint. “I shall be all through before supper-time.”
“How many hours do you want on a job like this?” the captain asked angrily.
“I’m getting along right well, sir; but it was so dirty that a feller couldn’t make his work show till he was almost through.”
“You’ve got too much chin to suit me,” the captain cried, and at that instant Ned was forced to pass very near the man, who appeared as if trying to make himself angry when no reason for a display of temper existed.