Everything was going well, and the rhythmical hum of the motor echoed through the boat from the engine room. Glennie walked over and took a look at the periscope. In the mirror were reflected the slowly receding shore line and the distant mountains that arose behind the town.
"You fellows seem to know your business," remarked Glennie.
"Aye," growled Dick, "and we mind it, Mr. Glennie."
The ensign turned from the periscope and went up on deck.
"Why are you keeping the boat so high in the water?" he called down.
"He knows so much, matey," said Dick to Matt, "why not let him figure that out for himself?"
"Because," Matt answered, shaking his head at Dick, "we can make better speed when we're riding light. Once out of the Gulf of Paria, though, the sea will probably be so rough we'll have to submerge."
The ensign continued to ask questions and Matt continued to answer them until Speake announced dinner. The meal was served to the crew at their different stations, Ah Sin carrying the plates and the steaming cups of coffee.
After the meal Matt went up on deck with Glennie, and Dick did the steering from the top of the conning tower. The Gulf of Paria was a great watery plain, over which the waters of the Orinoco spread themselves before mingling with the sea.
The ensign, feeling that he was disliked, drew back into his shell and bore himself with a chilly reserve. Along toward three o'clock Matt relieved Dick and sent him below to sleep. Directly after supper Dick would have to relieve Gaines and stand his trick at the motor, and it was necessary for him to get a little rest. Carl would also have to relieve Clackett, and, in order to be fit for his duties, the Dutch boy had turned in immediately after dinner. He was sleeping on the floor of the periscope room, and Dick curled up on the locker.