“I don’t like it,” said Jack. “There may have been nothing wrong, of course, but, well, you see, I should feel sick if anything happened to that boat.”
“I wonder who it could have been,” said George.
“Cap’n Crumbie, I have half a mind to spend to-night on board,” said Jack. “I could sleep in one of the bunks in the cabin just as well as in bed at home.”
The watchman took his pipe out of his mouth and carefully laid it down. When he did that you knew he was thinking hard.
“There’s no need to do that, son,” he replied, “so long as I’m here. You may depend on it I’m going to keep my eyes skinned for the next week or so, till we get the moon again. But then again, there wouldn’t be any harm done if you do want to sleep aboard.”
“Yes, Jack, let’s,” pleaded the mate. “I don’t think I’ve ever slept on a boat.”
“All right,” agreed the skipper. “If we both get murdered don’t blame me. Bring a blanket down after supper, George, and we’ll make ourselves comfortable.”
Cap’n Crumbie lent the boys a lantern, and after wishing them a cheery “good night,” left them alone. For about an hour they chatted, and then, feeling sleepy, turned out the light and rolled themselves up in their blankets. George dropped off to sleep within a few minutes, but Jack turned about in his bunk for some time before following suit. He did not expect his slumbers to be disturbed, for, the more he thought about it the more he came to the conclusion that the visitor to the sloop the previous night must have come to the wharf for something which had nothing to do with the Sea-Lark. There was so little on board that could be stolen. Nobody in his senses would do such a clumsy thing as attempt to get away with the old sails, he mused.
It was pitch-black in the cabin. Up on deck it was not much better, for the thin crescent of a moon was not due for hours yet, and there were clouds in the sky again to-night. Occasionally the sloop rocked gently as the water lapped her side and burbled between her and the wharf. It was a soft, soothing sound. Jack was perfectly comfortable, and very happy. It was a good idea to sleep on the boat, he reflected. The novelty of the thing appealed to him greatly. Later, when the weather grew hot, he and George would often do it. He wondered vaguely what Cap’n Crumbie was doing on the wharf. Perhaps snatching forty winks in his own little snuggery. Jack felt he couldn’t blame the Cap’n if he did snatch forty winks—fifty, if he liked—