No until his work in the cabin was finished did the two emerge from their conference, and then it was apparent that Mr. Stout had agreed to join the captain in the commission of the crime. The master of the Evening Star was evidently on the best of terms with his mate, and the two showed very plainly that they had a secret in common.
“If I don’t talk with Mr. Stout pretty soon he’ll be jest as bad as the captain,” Ned said to himself as he noted the change which had come over the mate during the past few hours. “I’ll watch my chance to-night after the old man has turned in, for if this thing is to be done inside of a week the best way is to get ready for the worst right soon.”
The captain did not interfere with the new boy on this day, and had it not been for the short but sharp experience before putting to sea, Ned would have believed he was sailing under one of the most amiable men to be found in the world.
When night came the cabin-boy finished his tasks as quickly as possible and then went on deck, where he remained by the rail amidships until after the first officer had had another interview with the captain in the pantry.
“What are you doing out here?” Mr. Stout asked as he came on deck, and since he knew the officer was willing to commit a crime, Ned fancied his voice had lost that cheery ring which pleased him so much when he first heard it. “Ain’t gettin’ homesick, are you?”
“How can a feller feel like that when he hasn’t got any home to go to?” Ned asked with a mirthless laugh. “All the same, I wish I was on shore.”
“Why? You seem to be gettin’ along well enough here.”
“I am so far as the work goes; but there’s more that’s worryin’ me.”
“What is it, lad? You’re too young to have very big troubles.”
“If you’d promise me somethin’ I’d feel a good deal better.”