It was impossible for Ned to sleep any more on this night, and next morning there was no reason why the chief mate should awaken him, for he was at work in the cabin as soon as the first gray light of the coming dawn could be seen.
“Feelin’ better, eh?” Mr. Stout asked as he came below while Ned was placing the dishes on the table preparatory to serving breakfast.
“Yes, sir, an’ I’ll be able to do my work now if I don’t get taken again.”
“There isn’t much chance of that. You’ve served an apprenticeship, and won’t have any more trouble this voyage.”
Then the mate went into the pantry for some of the same liquid which had played an important part in the conversation during the previous night, for it is as strange as it is true that as soon as a man contemplates villainy of almost any kind, he invariably flies for courage and consolation to liquor.
Ned made up his mind to speak with the mate that very morning in reference to what he had heard; but the opportunity was denied him.
Before the first officer returned from the pantry the captain came out of his room, and the two spent considerable time at the forward end of the cabin conversing in whispers.
Then breakfast was served, after which Mr. Stout went to his apartment, and there was so much work for the cabin-boy to do that he had not finished when it was time to prepare for dinner.
The captain was in such a good humor during the noon-day meal that Ned was not even reprimanded when he tripped over a chair and spilled a portion of a cup of coffee, and after dinner the master and his mate went into the pantry once more.
The cabin-boy was tempted to enter his own room in order to hear what was said, for most likely the mate was giving an answer to the question asked; but the risk of being detected was so great that he did not venture on any such hazardous experiment.