“Nonsense, if it had hit your head it would have broken the stick. Get up and get breakfast,� said Raynor, who knew something of Pompey’s ways of gaining sympathy.
“And here’s something to take the smart out,� said Uncle Toby, giving the negro a coin.
“Thank you, gen’ellman,� said Pompey, with a broad grin, and all his troubles forgotten. “I perceed at oncet wid’ de prognostications fo’ de mat’stushanal meal.�
“Matutinal meal I suppose he means,� laughed Raynor to the rest. “Pompey has a language that’s all his own.�
“He should be suppressed,â€� declared Mr. Terrill, “the idea of calling us pirates and then, as for giving him money—disgraceful.â€�
“Cheer up, Terrill,� chuckled Uncle Toby, “you and me ’ull have so much money before long that we kin give the Rockybilts a stake ef they should happen ter need it.�
In the general laugh that followed Jack noticed that Terrill’s expression was anything but amiable. In fact, he looked as if he wished the whole party anywhere but there. During breakfast everybody told their stories and Raynor apprised Jack of the injury to the wireless.
The young operator examined it with a rueful look.
“Out of business. Too bad,� he murmured. “I counted on it for notifying Captain Simms of what had happened. It may be weeks before I can rejoin the Thespis.�
“Why, won’t your uncle sail us all back to her?� asked Raynor, who had regarded this part of the program as cut and dried.