He knew his father’s well enough and looked in. But he could not bear to enter that just now, and so fixed upon one, which should have belonged to the second mate, for the use of poor Swivel.
He went back to Milly and the injured boy then, and removed the latter to the brig’s cabin.
Milly, who was a capable girl in more ways than one, went to work at once to get up a substantial meal from the stores which they had brought from the Success, with the addition of some eatables belonging to the provisions of the Swan.
It was rapidly growing dark, and to prevent the liability of a collision, Brandon hunted out some of the ship’s lanterns and hung two in the bows, and another at the masthead, devoutly hoping that the lights, placed in these peculiar positions, would attract the attention of some passing vessel.
Then the lamp in the cabin was filled and lighted, and for the first time in forty-eight hours or more, they sat down to a comfortable meal.
At least, Milly and Brandon sat down; Swivel remained in his berth, with the door of the stateroom open, and watched them with a wan smile on his pale face.
“Now, Brandon, why don’t you see if the diamonds are here?” asked the young girl, as they finished their supper. “I thought you would be eager to look as soon as you got aboard.”
Don glanced across the table at her curiously.
“Do you know,” he said hesitatingly. “I’m half afraid to. It would be a terrible disappointment if they should not be there—and perhaps they are not.”
“Come, come! don’t be foolish,” said practical Milly. “Take a look in the secret closet—wherever it is—or I shall be tempted to do it myself.”