“I don’t understand it,” said the skipper, shaking his head. “Why, only yesterday he was up on deck here eating his dinner, and saying it was the best meat he ever tasted. You heard him, Bob?”
“I heard him, pore little devil!” said the mate.
“You all heard him,” said the skipper. “Well, there’s five witnesses I’ve got. He must have been mad. Didn’t nobody hear him go overboard?”
“I ’eard a splash, sir, in my watch,” said Bill.
“Why didn’t you run and see what it was?” demanded the other.
“I thought it was one of the chaps come up to throw his supper overboard,” said Bill simply.
“Ah!” said the skipper, biting his lip, “did you? You’re always going on about the grub. What’s the matter with it?”
“It’s pizon, sir,” said Ned, shaking his head. “The meat’s awful.”
“It’s as sweet as nuts,” said the skipper. “Well, you can have it out of the other tank if you like. Will that satisfy you?”
The men brightened up a little and nudged each other.