“He doesn’t have to, does he?” inquired Phil.
“Sartain he does, to maintain his nautical dignity. All cap’ns has to occupy state-rooms, pervided their vessels has ’em, no matter whether they fit or not. Why, there was my friend old Kite Roberson, longer than I be by half, so that when he was only a mate he had to have two end-to-end bunks cut into one to give him stretching-room. When he come to be cap’n he had to take a state-room that had been built fer a short man, and couldn’t in no way be lengthened. Poor old Kite naturally hated it, but for the sake of his perfessional dig he uster crawl in there and double himself up like a shut jackknife. Bimeby it got so that in the morning they had to pull him out in sections, like a spy-glass, and rig preventer back-stays on his legs to keep him from getting sprung in the knees. As it was, he got so bent over that finally his head got under his left arm, and he uster turn round backward to see for’ard, but he never gave up his dig, which he allus said it war his proudest boast.”
After Phil had politely allowed such time to elapse that the mate might think he was laughing over this yarn, he said:
“By-the-way, Mr. Coombs, when do I go on watch?”
“You?” replied the other. “You don’t have to stand no watch. Hunters never does.”
“Am I a—” began Phil; but his question was forced to remain unasked, for at that moment some subtle sense informed the mate that it was again time to change the schooner’s course, and he bawled out, “Ready about!” In the confusion that followed he disappeared, and Phil stumbled forward, more anxious than ever to meet with Serge, and beg him to throw the light of his superior knowledge on the situation.
He discovered his friend snugly stowed away in a forecastle berth. Here, as half a dozen men constituting the watch below occupied other berths in the extremely narrow quarters allotted to the crew, the lads were obliged to converse in whispers to avoid being overheard, as well as not to disturb those who slept.
“Why haven’t you been to supper, old man?” began Phil.
“I have, long ago,” replied Serge; “but where have you been all this time? I was beginning to worry about you.”
“Been in the cabin eating supper, mostly; but I didn’t see you there.”