companion-way, "This is my first voyage with him, and, between you and
me and the lamp-post, it'll be the last, if things don't greatly improve
between now and our getting back to London. I reckon you'll be all the
better for a snooze, too, so come below with me. You can use my cabin
for the present, until the `old man' makes other arrangements."

"Very many thanks," answered Leslie; "I shall be more than glad to avail
myself of your kind offer. Before I do so, however, I wish to say that
somewhere over there," pointing out over the lee bow, "about three miles
away, there is some floating wreckage from the _Golden Fleece_, and,
although I think it rather doubtful, there _may_ be a few people
clinging to it. I hope you will represent this to Mr Potter, and
induce him to run down and examine the spot. It will not take him much
off his course; and if the fellow has any humanity at all in him he will
surely not neglect the opportunity to save possibly a few more lives."

"All right," said Purchas, "I'll tell him when he comes on deck again.
Now you come away below and turn in."

Therewith the mate conducted Leslie down into a small, dark, and rather
frowsy stateroom at the foot of the companion ladder, and outside the
brig's main cabin; and having said a few awkward but hearty words of
hospitality in reply to the other's expressions of thanks, closed the
door upon him and left him to himself.

Five minutes later, Leslie was stretched warm and comfortable in the
bunk, wrapped in sound and dreamless sleep.

CHAPTER THREE.

CAPTAIN POTTER CAUSES TROUBLE.

When Leslie awoke the warm and mellow glow of the light that streamed in
through the small scuttle in the ship's side prepared him for the
discovery that he had slept until late in the afternoon; and as he lay
there reflecting upon the startling events of the previous twenty-four
hours the sound of eight bells being struck on deck confirmed his
surmise by conveying to him the information that it was just four
o'clock. He raised himself in the bunk, striking his head smartly
against the low deck-planking above him as he did so. He looked for his
clothes where he had flung them off before turning in, but they were not
there; casting his eyes about the little apartment, however, he
presently recognised them hanging, dry, upon a hook screwed to the
bulkhead. Thereupon he dropped out of the bunk, and proceeded forthwith
to dress, noting, as he did so, by the s