The skipper did not express his satisfaction that they were not alone, but he felt it just the same. Pearl was ugly, and Dory did not like the looks of him. The new passenger gazed about him, and seemed to be examining the boat for some time. He looked under the seats in the standing-room, and opened a couple of lockers. Then he raised the floor-boards, and looked at the ballast.
When he had done this, he seated himself again. He looked at Dory, and then he glanced up at the sails. He watched the sailing of the schooner in silence for a few minutes. He evidently had something on his mind, and he appeared to be debating with himself as to the manner in which he should open the subject. As his eyes wandered about the boat, they rested upon the cabin-doors. He looked at them a moment, and then went forward, and tried to open them.
"You keep the cuddy locked, do you, Dory?" asked he, as he pulled several times at the doors.
"Just now I do," replied Dory, who had no skill in lying, and no inclination to practise it. "I wish you would come aft, Mr. Hawlinshed. When you are so far forward, it puts her down too much by the head."
"She works very well indeed, Dory Dornwood. What have you been doing to her?" asked Pearl.
"I changed the position of the foremast, and have shifted the ballast," replied Dory, wishing the third passenger would come aft; for he was afraid he might discover the presence of the others in the cabin.
"Do you happen to have the key to this padlock in your pocket, Dory?" asked Pearl in an indifferent tone.
Just then he saw the inquirer drop his head, and put his right ear very near the blinds in the doors of the cabin. But he did not act as if he had discovered any thing. The skipper thought he heard some kind of a noise in the cabin, as though one of its occupants had coughed or sneezed. But he was not sure of it, and the noise was just as likely to have been the dashing of the water against the bow of the boat.
"You spoil the sailing of the boat by staying so far forward," repeated the skipper, with his heart in his mouth.
"Perhaps I do, Dory Dornwood. I asked you if you happened to have the key of that padlock in your pocket," said Pearl, as he moved aft. "I should like to have you answer me if it isn't too much trouble."