"Ay, ay, sir," I replied, very willing to return, in order to satisfy myself that the gold was still safe.
I confess that I did not feel half so much pleasure in the possession of my money as I did before I lost it. I had very little hope of being able to retain it, and I regarded it as a very uncertain treasure—more uncertain even than earthly treasures usually are. I went up the main rigging, and on reaching the cross-trees, I found the bag where I had left it. For an hour I saw the mate going from place to place about the deck; but I think he spent half the time in the quarters of the crew. I put the bag in my pocket, and was soon ordered down. I went immediately to the forecastle, and found the key of my trunk in the key-hole. My clothes and everything else had been thoroughly overhauled, and were in hopeless confusion; but my precious relics were safe.
"Pass the word for Phil Farringford," said the second mate to a man near the door of the house on deck.
"Here, sir," I responded.
"Mr. Waterford wants you."
I threw the bag of gold hastily into the trunk, and locked it. I found the chief mate on the quarter-deck waiting for me.
"Why don't you come when I send for you?" said he, savagely.
"I did come; I am here, sir."
"It takes you a good while to come after you are called. You were in my state-room last night, Phil?"
"You put me there, sir."