"Honorable gent no ansler," he reported.
"That's queer," remarked the captain. "I'll step there myself."
He returned promptly, looking very grave. "He isn't there," he announced.
"Perhaps he's gone on deck to get an appetite for breakfast," suggested Drew lightly.
"It's not alone that he's absent," said the captain in a worried tone. "His bed hasn't been slept in!"
There was a chorus of startled exclamations. Drew and Tyke jumped to their feet and Ruth lost her color.
"Oh, Daddy!" she cried, "it can't be that anything's happened to him?"
"Don't get excited, Ruth," said her father soothingly. "There may be some explanation. I'll have the ship searched at once."
They all hurried on deck, and the captain summoned the mate and Mr. Rogers. He told them what he feared and ordered that the ship be searched thoroughly.
Rogers turned to obey, but the one-eyed mate, Cal Ditty, stopped him with a gesture.