"What for?"
"I have told you we were to ship on her—we were to work on board."
"What were you to do on board?"
"We were to work at whatever we were set at."
"Hm-m-m!" mused the red-faced skipper. "Had your breakfast?"
"No, sir; we have not had anything to eat since we ate luncheon yesterday noon."
"Hm-m-m-m. Come with me."
The captain led the way aft over the decks, along a walk at the side of the hatches, which the lads observed were snugly battened down. Their conductor passed on by the engine house, clear to the stern of the vessel, where he entered the door of the deck-house.
"Jake!" he called sharply, poking his head into the room.
A white-capped, white-aproned man suddenly made his appearance.