long the deck, with their kids, to the
galley-fire, to receive their portions of dinner from the black cook,
who, with face shining doubly from the heat which none but a black cook
or a German sugar-baker could have endured, was busily employed in
serving it out to them. The smell of the good boiled beef or pork--very
different from what our sailors once had--seemed to give them appetites,
for they hastened back with the smoking viands to their mess-tables
slung from the deck above. Here the men sat in rows, with their
brightly-polished mess utensils before them, and soon gave proof that
the heat had had no serious effect on their health.

It is usual to send all the men below at dinner-time, except those
absolutely required to steer and look out, unless the weather is bad,
and it is probable that any sudden change may be required to be made in
the sails. Most of the officers on this occasion were on deck, slowly
walking up and down in the shadow of the sails. Ben and Tom were at
their mess-table, laughing and talking and enjoying themselves as boys
do in an ordinarily happy ship.

"This is jolly!" observed Tom. "I like a calm, there's so little to do;
and it's fair that the sails should have a holiday now and then. They
must get tired of sending us along, month after month, as they have to
do."

"I do not think they get much rest, after all, even now," said Ben.
"Listen how they are flapping against the masts! If they had to do much
of that sort of thing, they would soon wear themselves out. What a loud
noise they make!"

"Oh yes; but that is only now and then, you see, just to show us that
they have not gone to sleep as the wind has done, and are ready for use
when we want them," remarked Tom, who had always a ready answer for any
observation made by Ben; too ready sometimes, for he thus turned aside
many a piece of good advice which his friend gave him. "At all events,
the ship can't be getting into any mischief while she is floating all
alone out here, away from the land," he added. "If I was the captain, I
would turn in and go to sleep till the wind begins to blow again."

Tom did not know how little sleep the captain of a large ship, with the
lives of some hundred men confided to him, ventures to take.

Captain Bertram was on deck, walking with Mr Charlton. He stopped, and
earnestly looked towards the north-east His keen eye had detected a
peculiar colour in the water extending across the horizon