had not looked for such dress on shipboard,
or at least on a ship of the mysterious character of the _Mariella_.

"Welcome to our little dinner party," said the captain, solemnly, as he
shook each boy by the hand and pointed to seats on the big divan. "This
is the first time that strangers have graced our board on this occasion.
I hope it portends a successful ending to our voyage."

"We certainly hope so too, captain. We should be very sorry to feel that
our presence on your steamer might cause trouble to you."

"O, one never knows what the morrow may bring. This is our farewell
night. To-morrow we enter the zone of danger. But to-night we will be
merry. Is not that an excellent idea?"

"The idea is all right, captain, but where is the danger?"

"Ah, that you may know to-morrow."

"All right, cap," said Mason, carelessly throwing one leg over the other
and thrusting his thumbs into the armholes of his vest, "we'll stick to
you."

"I believe you will, boys, but it will be my care to keep you free from
harm if possible. That is one reason why I have made so much of a
mystery to you of the voyage of the _Mariella_. Whatever may befall us
you will have had no part in the purpose of this voyage, and remember,
above all things, that you are American citizens. There are American
consuls in every port and Uncle Sam will take care of his own, perhaps
not with the alacrity that we sometimes could wish for, but in due
course of time. So shout loudly for Uncle Sam if you need him and if he
does not hear you, don't forget that John Bull speaks your language."

The boys were puzzled by the captain's speech, but they knew him well
enough to realize that it would be useless to question him. At this
point the mate entered the cabin. His appearance was so odd that Bert
had to hide his face behind his handkerchief to laugh. His expression
was as solemn as the captain's. He wore a pair of blue pilot cloth
trousers, a vest with brass buttons and an old-fashioned swallow-tailed
coat. The trousers, which were badly creased and puckered from long
service inside the tops of his sea boots, were now pulled down outside,
but the wide tops of the boots showed in a ring at the knee.

The captain greeted him in the same dignified way that he had received
the boys, and he gravely took a seat on the divan beside them. The next
to put in an appearance was the engineer, who wore his service uniform.
The second mate was the last to arrive. He wa