I started, and saw it was a cat he held. It was black as coal.
'Bring it here,' I cried.
He came, the others grinning as they stood in a huddle looking aft. It was a young cat, and it mewed as the man approached with it. Cliffe came on deck at that moment.
'Where was it found?' I asked, stroking the thing as it lay mewing in Bodkin's hands.
'In one of the men's hammocks, sir.'
'It's a cat!' exclaimed Cliffe with a grimace. 'Who brought it aboard?'
'No man owns to it,' responded Bodkin.
'But who would bring it aboard if it wasn't its own legs, Mr. Moore?' said Cliffe, turning to me. 'D'ye know I'd ask for no better stroke of luck in all my seafaring days than this same beast's presence,' and he advanced his little hand and tickled the cat's head.
'There's fourteen of us now, sir,' said Bodkin, with a darting roll of his eyes.
'Fourteen and a stroke of luck besides, eh?' said I with a foolish laugh of good spirits spite of myself.