oat. I--I am positive of it."

"Why are you so positive?"

"Everything foretells it. At the very start it was--foretold. I was
foolish then that I did not demand--demand, sir--to be set ashore, even
after the steamer had left--her pier."

"How was that?"

"There was a cat, sir--a poor, stray cat--that came aboard this steamer.
They did not let her stay--understand me? They--they drove her off!"

"And that was a bad omen?"

"Bad! It was--ah--er--frightful! Old sailors will tell you that.
Always--er--let a cat remain on board a vessel--if--she--comes on board.
If you--if you do not--you will regret it."

"And you think something must happen to this steamer?"

"I'm afraid so--I feel it. There is--something mysterious about the
vessel, gentlemen. I don't know--just what it is--but it's something.
The--the captain looks worried. I--I've noticed it. I've talked with
him. Couldn't get any satisfaction--out of him. But I--I know!"

"I'm afraid you are a croaker," said Diamond, unable to keep still
longer.

"You may think so--now; but wait and see--wait. Keep your eyes--open.
I--I think you will see something. I think you will find there
are--mysterious things going on."

"Well, you have not told us what you want of us, Mr. Slush," said Frank.

"That's so--forgot it." Then, of a sudden, to Bruce: "Don't twirl your
thumbs--that way. Do it backward--backward! It--it's a sure sign
of--disaster to twirl your thumbs--forward."

"All right," grunted the big fellow; "backward it is." And he reversed
the motion.

"Thank you," breathed Mr. Slush, with a show of relief. "Now, I'll tell
you--why I called. I--er--saw a young man--leaving this room--a few
minutes ago."

"Yes."

"Mr. Bloodgood."

"Yes."

"I--I have taken an interest in--Mr. Bloodgood. I--I think he is--a
rather nice young man."

"I don't admire your taste," came from Jack.

"Eh? I don't know him--very well. You understand. Met him--in the
smoking-room. Sometimes I--er--play cards--for amusement. Met him that
way."

"Does he play for amusement?" asked Frank.

"Oh, yes--ah--of course. That is--he--he likes--a little stake."

"I thought so."

"I--I don't mind that."

"Great Scott!" thought Merry. "I don't see how he ever gets round to
play cards for money. I shouldn't think he'd know what to do. It would
take him so long to make up his mind."

"But I--I don't care to make a--a companion of anybody about whom I
know--nothing. That's why I--cam