in Dinks had said--he had tumbled out a portmanteau in his state-
room in order to overhaul some old papers; and he presently came out
into the cuddy with a chart in his hand.

"Hillo, mister," said the American as soon as he noticed him, "jest
roused up, hey? I thought you wer havin' a bit of snooze, and wondered
when you were goin' to turn out!"

"Ah," said Mr Meldrum gravely, "it's no time for sleeping now for any
one on board. The ship is in far too perilous a position for that!"

"Is she?" asked Mr Lathrope, most unconcernedly apparently.

"She really is," replied Mr Meldrum.

"Wa-al, if she is," returned the other, lifting a huge morsel of ham on
the end of his fork, and surveying it critically with much relish of eye
before placing it in his capacious mouth, "why, it's a bad business,
that's all I ken say; and I'm right down sorry fur it, I am--things was
going on so slick and pleasant! But if we can't help it, mister, what's
the sorter use in grievin'? I don't see the good in cryin' over a spilt
petroleum can, I don't! Now, dew, mister, draw up har and make yourself
comf'able; you'll find this bacon prime, for I knows it's the gen-u-ine
Chicago brand and came out of the States."

"No, thanks," said Mr Meldrum, smiling at the other's imperturbable
philosophy and epicureanism that seemed proof against everything, even
the sense of mortal peril, "I had something to eat earlier, and do not
care about anything now."

At that moment, Captain Dinks came down the companion and looked into
the saloon, when, seeing Mr Meldrum, he beckoned to him.

"Would you mind coming on deck for a few moments," said he hurriedly, "I
want to speak to you about something?"

"Certainly," said Mr Meldrum, at once getting up from the table, on
which he had spread out the chart he had brought from his cabin and was
engaged with a pair of compasses in picking out the ship's possible
position.

"Say, mister--" commenced the American.

"Pray, excuse me," interrupted Mr Meldrum, "I'll speak to you when I
come down again; I must join the captain now, as you see;" and he
hurried to the companion-way, Captain Dinks standing aside and motioning
to him to go up first.

"Say, Cap--" called out Mr Lathrope, not to be baffled.

"Can't stop now," curtly replied Captain Dinks; and he, too, disappeared
in the rear of Mr Meldrum.

"Now, I do jest wonder what them two coons hev on hand?" said the
American, when they had thus left him wi