“Co’-rect,” chuckled the captain, grinning at Jack’s quick reply to the almost invariable formula, “an’ if Captain Toby Ready had thought o’ that when he was young, he wouldn’t be here on the craft Wenus making medicines fer sea-cap’ns with a tummy ache.
“I’ve got an apple pie in the oven, Jack,” said he, as the boy left the “drug-store,” as he and his uncle called it, “so cut along and hurry back.”
“Aye, aye, sir!” cried the boy, bounding up the cabin stairs with alacrity.
Apple pies were not common on board the Venus, nor was Jack too old to appreciate his uncle’s announcement.
CHAPTER IV.
THE REJECTED REWARD.
When Jack returned, he was surprised to hear voices in the cabin. His uncle had a habit of talking to himself, but there was another voice mingling with the old sailor’s deep, rumbling tones.
Wondering greatly who the visitor could be, for somehow the voice sounded different from the bellowings of the old sea cronies who visited the Venus either on business or socially, Jack descended the cabin stairs.
The swinging lamp was lighted and shone down on his uncle and another man, seated on opposite sides of the table.