"I think I shall be able to take care of the man myself when I meet him and know him," replied the lad, with a faint smile. "I shall report for duty on time this morning, so please do not put any one in my place."
"Very well; perhaps it will do you good to be busy. Well, I'm going to breakfast. Let me know if you get a line on this mystery."
Steve did not answer. He stood leaning against the after deck-house, thinking. Finally he turned with a sigh intending to go forward. As he did so a man came out of the stokers' dining room and started to go below. Rush halted sharply.
"Hello, Smith," he said. "When did you come aboard the 'Richmond'?"
"When did you think I came aboard?"
"That's what I am asking you."
"Mebby I'm a fish and swam out," answered the stoker. Smith was the man with whom Steve had had the trouble on the first disastrous cruise.
"I shouldn't be surprised. You are equal to most anything that's out of the ordinary. Where were you last night?"
"Stoking from six to twelve—eight bells. But——" Smith checked himself.