He was told, and, opening the door, he found himself in a comfortable little room with two berths.
“I can pass the night here very pleasantly,” he thought. “There is some difference between sleeping here and on a sailboat.”
Once, in company with his uncle, he had been compelled to pass the night on the ocean in a small sailboat used for fishing purposes.
Robert left his valise in the stateroom and went into the saloon.
A gong was heard, which he found was the announcement of supper. It was now past seven o’clock and he felt hungry. He accordingly followed the crowd downstairs and ate a hearty meal.
When he went upstairs again the band soon began to play and helped to while away the time. Some of the passengers read papers, others read books and magazines, while others from the outer decks watched the progress of the large boat as it swiftly coursed over the waves. In this last company was Robert.
Without being aware of it, our hero attracted the notice of one of his fellow passengers, a man possibly of thirty-five, tall and thin and dressed in black. Finally he accosted Robert.
“A fine evening!” he remarked.
“Yes, sir, very fine.”
“You are going to New York, I suppose?”