Harvey gave a start of surprise. He hadn’t counted on spending this night aboard the schooner.
“Do you mean to stay here to-night?” he asked.
“Why, sure,” responded young Mr. Jenkins. “Good chance to try it on and see how you like it. We’ll just roll up here, and you’ll swear you were never more comfortable in all your life.”
“Well,” answered Harvey, “I’ll try it. You’re sure the captain will ship us, though?”
“Oh, you can take what that boy Joe says for gospel,” answered young Mr. Jenkins. “He knows.”
“Then I’ll step out on deck and bring down that little hand-bag of mine,” said Harvey. “I left it forward by the rail when I came aboard. It’s got a comb and brush and a tooth-brush and a change of underwear in it.”
Harvey ascended the ladder and walked out on deck. It was a glorious night, the sky studded with thousands of stars. The air was chilly, but Harvey was warmly dressed, and the crisp air was invigorating after his stay in the cabin. He went forward, wondering, in his somewhat confused state of mind, what his chums in Benton would think of it if they could know where he was, and what he contemplated doing.
“I only wish Henry Burns was going along,” he thought. “Well, I’ll have something to tell him next time I see him.”
He little thought under what strange circumstances they would next meet.
Hardly had Harvey left the cabin, when young Mr. Jenkins sprang into the galley, leering at the boy Joe, and digging that stolid youngster facetiously in the ribs.