n every particular.

"Guess Jeff is spreading himself, just to show what he can do," remarked
Larry to the first mate, after he had finished his repast.

"It's very good, Larry," answered Tom Grandon.

By the middle of the afternoon three of the men were complaining of
feeling sick and all attributed their ailments to what they had eaten
for dinner.

"Ha! vat I tole you?" cried Semmel. "Didn't I say de grub vos pad? Not
maybe you belief me, hey?"

"I shan't stand for any more poor grub," came from Shamhaven. "If I
can't get good stuff I'm going to the captain about it."

The sickness of the hands worried Captain Ponsberry greatly and he
opened up his medicine chest and gave them such remedies as he thought
were best.

At supper time Jeff was extra cautious in selecting and preparing the
food. Nevertheless, the men who ate of it were suspicious and more than
half the meal went to waste. The captain was very thoughtful, but said
little or nothing.

On the following day the wind died down utterly and it was exceedingly
warm. With nothing to do, the majority of the hands gathered at the bow
to talk of matters in general, and the food in particular. Semmel and
Peterson were of the number, and both did all in their power to magnify
the outrage, as they termed it.

"Der captain don't haf any right to gif us such grub," said Semmel. "It
vos against der law."

"On some ships there would be a mutiny over this," added Peterson.

Larry overheard a part of the conversation and it set him thinking. Luke
Striker also grew suspicious.

"Unless I am mistaken, this is some of Semmel's work," said Larry to the
old tar. "He is doing his level best to make trouble on the ship."

"Well, he better mind his business," grumbled Luke. "I don't reckon the
captain will stand fer any underhanded work."

Without appearing to do so, Larry continued to keep his eyes on Semmel,
and about an hour before dinner he saw the bearded sailor approach the
cook's galley and look inside. Jeff was below, getting a case of canned
goods. With a swift movement, Semmel stepped into the galley, raised the
lid of a big pot full of stew that was on the stove, and sprinkled
something over the food. Then he hurried out and sneaked forward once
more.

"The rascal!" murmured Larry. "So this is his game. I wonder what he put
into that pot?"

For the moment the young second mate thought to confront Semmel and
demand an explanation. Then he changed his min