Without, the pandemonium was redoubled. The British officers and their Japanese comrades paid scant attention to the noise. They had scored heavily up to the present, and they realised the fact.
"I begin to feel fairly peckish," remarked Cardyke, at length.
"So we all do, I fancy, except perhaps this rascal. We've given him twelve hours' start in the fasting competition, but I bet he'll be mighty hungry before we're done with him," said the sub., grimly. "How about you, Hardy; did they feed you at all?"
"At first, sir," replied the coxswain. "Then because I wouldn't join up with them they tried to starve me into submission. If it hadn't been for this crack across my figurehead I'd have taken on the whole mess with my fists and wiped the deck with the lot of them."
"I believe you would, Hardy," remarked Cardyke, admiringly, for the coxswain held the belt in the Inter-Port Boxing Competition. "Are you very hungry?"
"Only once afore like it in my life, as far as I can remember. That was when I was in Haslar Hospital. Low diet the 'poultice-slappers' called it. Couldn't have been much lower. An' the bloke in the next cot to me was being fed with chicken, an' 'ad port wine to drink."
"We'll have to be chewing our belts soon," remarked the sub. "But I don't know abort you fellows—I feel mighty tired."
It was now about two bells—9 a.m. Beyond a party of men who had been left to watch the conning-tower, the rest of the pirates had taken themselves off to their various duties or recreations—mostly the latter. The Independencia was still heading S.S.W. according to the compass in the conning-tower. It was not one of the standard compasses belonging to the ship—these had been removed prior to sale—but had been brought on board from the pseudo Steephill Castle. Since the cruiser had not been swung to adjust compasses it was obvious that the course might be points out, since the deviation was unknown.
"We'll set watches, and the rest of us can have a snooze," continued Fielding. "We'll toss for it. I believe the rascals left a few coins in my pocket, although they bagged my purse and my gold watch. Here goes."
The coin spun in the air. The mid., Oki, and Hokosuka found that theirs was the first "watch below," while Fielding and Mukyima had to keep the first two hours' watch. Owing to his condition Tom Hardy was not called upon for this duty.