wn two or three
steps. Here they found Neb (short for Nebraska), the cook, a short,
fat jolly looking negro, who with his stove and cooking utensils so
completely filled up the place that Ralph was puzzled to see how the
man ever managed to cook at all. Every bit of space was utilized,
however. There were drawers and lockers under shelves and tables,
while overhead were swinging racks for dishes and provisions.

"Hi, Marse Tom, who be dat yo' got dar? One er dese yere shore kids?"

"Yes, he's a shore kid, Neb. Him and me haven't had any dinner. Can't
you shake us up a bit of something. Salt horse and skilly will do, if
nothin' else is handy."

Neb was acquiescent and the boatswain and his charge were soon
discussing a hearty meal with molasses, vinegar and water for a
beverage instead of coffee.

After that Bludson took Ralph aft and introduced him to the second
mate, Mr. Duff, a slim, active, pleasant looking young man of four and
twenty, who was superintending the coiling of a spare cable in a cuddy
hole beneath the wheel.

"New boy, eh," said he, giving Ralph a brief but keen inspection. "I
thought the captain swore that he wanted no more boys, after Bunty gave
him the slip."

Bunty, Ralph afterward learned, had run away at a foreign port with a
small sum of money not his own.

"Cap'n's changed his mind then, sir," returned Tom, "He said as 'e
wanted p'tickler care taken of this kid, and he was to wait in the
cabin till 'e gets his sea legs on so to speak."

"What' your name?" To Ralph, then turning to the men: "Easy there. Lay
her even, can't you."

Ralph replied and Bludson added:

"Blest if the kid's ever seen the ocean before. He don't know a brace
from a marlin spike."

"I can learn, I reckon," said Ralph so heartily that Mr. Duff took a
second look at the boy, then smiled to himself.

"Run down to the cabin and fetch me up the doctor," said the mate.
"Yon's the way."

He pointed towards the companionway.

Ralph, somewhat puzzled, started down, but fancied he heard a sound of
smothered laughter as he passed from sight.

"They're making fun of me," thought he. "I don't believe there is any
doctor here."

The two men having finished with the cable went forward, just as Ralph
reappeared bearing a box of patent pills he had found below.

"That's the nearest thing to a doctor I could find," said he.

The mate roared with laughter, while Long Tom grinned broadly, and the
sailors sni