“There’s no use keeping it ashore when a fellow can work so much more easily on board,” he said. “From now on we shall be here the greater portion of the time, and the sooner we begin ship duties the better it will be for the cook.”
“And he’s such an important personage that his comfort must be attended to very carefully,” Vance replied laughingly. “It won’t take us more than an hour to bring such things here as you’ll need.”
That noon the little party ate dinner aboard, and a very jolly meal it was.
Roy had taken great pains with his portion of the work, and the consequence was that they had a regular Thanksgiving dinner, as appeared right and proper to all, since they had a great deal for which to give thanks.
It surely seemed as if Ned would never get tired working, so eager was he to be under way once more.
When the others pleaded for a rest he kept steadily on, saying he had rather “be at somethin’ than layin’ still,” and even after nightfall he persisted in bending the jib in order to “save time.”
CHAPTER XIV.
UNDER WAY.
During the first day the Zoe was afloat nothing of any consequence had been taken from the store-tent, and, singular as it may seem, Vance had forgotten about the treasure until supper was eaten.
Ned had just begun labor on the jib, when his companion remembered that the gold and silver was yet ashore, and he said in reply to Vance’s proposition that it be brought on board at once:
“It’s as safe there as here. What’s the good of botherin’ about it now? If you fellows are so anxious to work, you’ll find plenty of chance at the pumps, for there’s a good bit of water in the hold.”