Harry was the first to spring from his bunk. He hastened to the cabin,
his first impulse being to try the door and see if they were still
prisoners. He started with surprise when he reached the outer room. At
the table in the centre sat the captain working at some maps and papers.
He looked up pleasantly as Harry entered.

"Good morning," he said cheerily, "did you sleep well after your
ducking?"

"Perhaps we should have slept better if we had not been locked in,"
answered Harry, a little surprised at his own temerity.

The man laughed good-humoredly.

"Oh, that should not have disturbed you," he said. "You see we did not
seem to understand each other very well last night when I left you. I
think we shall do better to-day. Now what do you say to some breakfast?
You have slept pretty late. It is twelve o'clock. There are your
clothes. You all better tumble out and get dressed. I am hungry myself
and just about to turn in. I have been on deck all night. The storm has
passed, and we are making very good time on our voyage, you will be glad
to hear, no doubt."

All the temper of the night before had disappeared, and the captain was
again the big, bluff, good-natured man that had first impressed the
boys. There was nothing to do but to follow his advice and watch for
developments, and Harry, putting aside any thought of further prying
into the affairs of the mysterious ship and her strange skipper for the
present, returned to the stateroom and began to dress. The captain went
to the door of the cabin and called. Again the same man answered with a
respectful salute.

"Tell the cook to serve breakfast."

"Aye, aye, sir."

These words seemed to be the extent of the man's vocabulary. The boys
soon learned that it was the only spoken formula of the ship's crew
unless in reply to questions, which were rarely asked. The captain's
words were commands. He ruled the entire ship's company with a power as
absolute as that of a monarch. But the yoke did not seem to gall. The
men's obedience was the sort that is given to one loved and honored.

By the time the boys had gotten into their clothes, which had been
carefully dried and pressed, they found that breakfast had been spread
in the cabin. It was as tempting as a meal at home. The hard tack of the
night before had been replaced by an omelet, hot biscuits, fried
potatoes, and a steaming pot of coffee, which from previous experience
the boys knew to be good. The savory odor