"There must be some one on board, unless we both dreamed about the sneeze."
"Mebbe it's a cat!" remarked Clip, ingenuously.
Bob laughed. "It must be a very remarkable cat that would sneeze like that," he said.
"Jus' so, Massa Bob," assented Clip, meekly, hoping that Bob would drop the subject.
"I think, Clip, I shall get up and search for that cat."
"Don't you do it, Massa Bob. He—he might bite you."
"I hope I am not such a coward as to be afraid of a cat."
Bob rose and lighted a candle which he had with him. Then, followed by Clip, he advanced to the other end of the deck. But the passenger had warning, having heard the conversation which had taken place between Bob and Clip, and had hurriedly retreated to his former hiding-place. It did not occur to Bob to look there, and he returned from his fruitless search more mystified than ever.
But, Clip being close beside him, he caught the aroma of the single swallow of whisky which Clip had taken, and he immediately began to suspect poor Clip of having indulged in much deeper potations than he was guilty of.
"Clip," he said, suddenly, "I smell whisky."