'Ain't it a lovely heavenly night, sir?' said the 'old man.' 'And going along so peaceful, while the stars shine on us. Are the horses all right, and the men?'
'They're—all right,' said Bertie. He seemed so silent that the skipper said no more.
'I wonder who Arizona meant when he said a friend of mine,' thought Bertie. 'I'll—I'll ask him.'
He went down below on the main deck and found Arizona leaning on a breast-rail and rubbing a big grey's muzzle.
'Arizona,' said Bertie.
'Yes, sir,' said Arizona.
'What friend of mine did you mean just now?'
Arizona looked at him. The electric light was strong there and fell on Bertie's face. It seemed quite different from what it had been. Arizona looked him full in the eyes as if nothing whatever had happened.
'It was the second mate, Mr. Forder, sir.'
'Why did he interfere?' asked Bertie.