The man seemed to be a shade less rough than his companions, so Herc ventured to ask him a question.
"What is the occasion for all this?" he inquired in a half-humorous tone.
"Now, don't ask questions, and you won't hear untruths," said the man.
With this, he hastened out of the cabin, carefully relocking the companionway door on the outside.
"Wow!" exclaimed Herc, giving vent to his favorite exclamation. Then he fell to eating with a will.
The meal, coarse as it was, revived his spirits. It was only when he came to taste the water that he put it down with a wry face. It was bitter, and had a nauseating flavor.
"I'm not certain," mused Herc, "but nevertheless, I'm pretty sure that some sort of drug has been placed in that stuff. Too bad. I'm thirsty enough to drink it all, too."
The motion of the sloop was quite lively now. It was evident that they were some distance out at sea. Occasionally, too, a green wave, washing over one of the port-holes, partially obscured what little light there was.
"Guess I might as well explore the place and see what sort of a craft this is," said Herc, as inactivity grew irksome. He started up from the locker on which he had been sitting, and made toward a door at the stern of the cabin.
It was not locked, and the lad threw it open without effort. What was his astonishment to see, stretched on a bunk, apparently in deep slumber, the form of his missing comrade.