ny talk--I mean take any stock in
that. What difference does it make to him who Bloodgood is?"

"That was something he did not make clear."

"He didn't seem to make anything clear," declared Jack. "I thought for
sure that he was going to throw out some hooks to drag us into that game
of poker. If he had, I should have known he was sent here, and I'd
kicked him out, whether you had been willing or not, Merry!"

"I'd opened the door and held it wide for you," smiled Frank.

"What do you think of him, Browning?" asked Harry.

"His way of talking made me very tired," yawned the big fellow. "He
seemed to work so hard to get anything out."

"I'll allow that we have had two rather queer visitors," said the
Virginian.

"And I shall take an interest in them both after this," declared Frank.

"Talk about superstitious persons, I believe he heads the list," from
Jack.

"He said he was not superstitious," laughed Merry.

"But the cat worried him."

"And my twiddling my thumbs," put in Bruce.

"And this dagger pin in my scarf," said Frank.

"It's a wonder he didn't prophecy shipwreck, or something of that sort,"
groaned Rattleton, who had settled at full length in his berth. "If this
rolling motion keeps up, I shall get so I won't care if we are wrecked."

"He must be a dandy in a good swift game of poker!" laughed Frank. "I
shouldn't think he'd be able to make up his mind how to discard. He'd be
a drawback to the game, or I'm much mistaken."

"It strikes me that he'd be easy fruit," said Rattleton.

"He looks like a 'sucker' himself, but sometimes it is impossible to
tell about a man till after you see him play. Anyhow, these two visits
were something to break the monotony of the voyage. It promised to be
pretty lively at the start, but it has settled down to be rather quiet."

Bloodgood and Slush proved good food for conversation, but the boys
tired of that after a while.

Diamond went out by himself, and Frank went to Tutor Maybe's room, where
he spent the time till the gong sounded for supper.

"Come, Harry," said Frank, appearing in the stateroom, "aren't you ready
for supper?"

Rattleton gave a groan.

"Don't talk to me about eating!" he exclaimed. "It makes me sick to
think about it. Leave me--let me die in peace!"

Jack was not there, so Frank and Bruce washed up and went out together.
They were nearly through eating when the Virginian came in and took his
place near them at the table.

Usually t