se from his
pocket, and offered it to the boys.

"Smoke?" he asked, carelessly.

The boys declined with thanks. The captain stretched himself and yawned
as he rose from the table.

"Now, young gentlemen," he said, "I am going to turn in. Make yourselves
at home. I take it that I have your word that you will not concern
yourselves with that which does not concern you."

"That depends upon how you construe the remark," said Harry, promptly.
"I should prefer to remain a prisoner in this cabin than not to use my
senses to my own advantage. For one, captain, I shall not promise except
that I will not do anything that might be considered prying into your
affairs. We feel sufficiently under obligations to you to prevent us
from taking advantage of your hospitality. It might be proper for me to
tell you, though, that I shall make every effort to get off your ship.
Not that I object to your company, but because we all feel that we owe
it to the folks at home."

The captain laughed. He did not seem at all annoyed at Harry's frank
statement.

"Begorra, I like you for your honesty. Go on deck and get the air. You
will find that I have not much to fear in the way of losing your company
just at present. Believe me, though, youngsters"--here he became serious
again--"if I could do so--with--what shall I say--with safety, I should
be only too glad to put you ashore and to relieve the anxiety of those
who are waiting for you. But in this matter I must be the judge, for
there are more persons involved and more interests at stake in the
voyage of the _Mariella_ than you can conceive. But I will put no
restrictions on you. Go on deck and amuse yourselves as well as you can
and make the best of the situation. Before we part company you will
understand my position better. Wait, I will introduce you to the mate."

He stepped to the cabin door and called:

"Suarez."

"Aye, aye, sir," came the prompt response, and a small man appeared in
the doorway.

"Suarez," said the captain, "these are the young gentlemen we picked out
of the sea last night. They are rather unwilling voyagers, for which
they cannot be blamed. Take them on deck and let them have the run of
the ship."

The mate looked up quickly at the captain in a questioning manner, as if
he would like to protest, if he dared. The captain smiled.

"The run of the ship, Suarez," he repeated, as if in answer to the
unspoken protest.

Again the mate saluted, and turned gravel