.

"Sacre! I keel you for five cent. Queek now--jump! Put all on right
way, by Gar, or I show you. Here you--ze brandy furst."

The steward slunk into the passage leading to the pantry, and the
Creole, turning, saw me.

"Ah, M'sieur; I saw you not. Pardon ze roughness, but consider, no
dinare, an' I been on deck seek hour; no sleep, no eat, only work. I
lose ze tempair, M'sieur."

"That is not to be wondered at," I answered, affecting good humor.
"Has the first mate been ashore?"

"Oui, M'sieur; asleep in the sun, I bet you. Bah! any man could watch
the sea from the cliff. Dat job not need ze furst officer. Sacre! but
't is a dog's life at sea."

I nodded my head, too busily engaged with my own thoughts to give much
consideration to his troubles. Still, this situation, as revealed by
Broussard's complaints, would afford us a respite of at least four
hours. If this was the Creole's watch below, then Herman would keep
the deck. Even lying there at anchor those fellows would not leave the
crew alone. There was too much at stake, and besides there must still
remain a look-out ashore. However it was a relief to know that the
German had nothing of importance to communicate to Henley, no occasion
even to come below. Broussard sank back into a chair, watching the
frightened negro hurry back and forth. At last, satisfied that
everything available had been produced, the former strode across to the
table, jerked out a chair, and waved his hand toward me in invitation
to join him.

"The lazy dog! 'T is likely all you will get, M'sieur. Maybe you eat
with me--hey? Or would you wait for ze Capitaine?"

"I 'll take pot-lunch with you, Broussard," I agreed genially, speaking
loud enough so the negro would overhear. "I 've got to get accustomed
to camp fare, and am hungry enough to begin. Besides, Captain Henley
is laid up in his berth with a sick headache, and does n't wish to be
disturbed. He told me to tell you, Louis."

"Yes, sah! Shall Ah make you sum coffee, sah? Massa Broussard he
don't nebber drink none."

"Yes, and, by the way, Louis, take a lunch in to the lady; fix up
something neat if you can, and let me know when it is ready. All
right, Broussard, a nip of that brandy would help me."

He passed the bottle, and a clean glass across the table, watching me
pour out the liquor with a sarcastic smile.

"You know ze Capitaine before, maybe?" he asked.

"No," I answered, wondering what he