“No, we must take good care of that,” and to steady his shaken nerves the mate had recourse to the liquor bottle, pouring out for himself a dram which very nearly filled the glass.
“You see I thought it was best to speak to you about it the first chance for if it is to be done so soon I might wait too long,” Ned continued, little fancying what thoughts were in the mate’s mind.
“That is right, lad. I’m glad you did, an’ now we’d better go on deck. See to it that you don’t stay up too late to-night, for you must be on hand bright an’ early in the mornin’ to have things ready for breakfast.”
“I’m goin’ to my room now. I only went on deck to speak with you.”
“All right; but be sure you don’t get to talkin’ with anybody else about what you heard, or there might come a row which wouldn’t be pleasant.”
“There’s no danger of that,” Ned replied cheerily, perfectly contented in mind since having spoken on the subject to the man whom he felt certain was his friend.
Mr. Stout was so attentive as to go with the boy to the door of his room, and when Ned was inside, the mate turned the key without the knowledge of the young occupant.
Then Mr. Stout visited the pantry once more, poured out another glass of liquor for the purpose of steadying his nerves, and muttered to himself as he went on deck:
“The skipper must hear of this before morning. It won’t do to let that kid run around the craft with such a secret as he has got; but the question is how we can put him out of the way?”