"Be a good boy," said the skipper, pausing on the companion-ladder, "and
you can stay with us if you like. Better turn in now, as you'll have to
make yourself useful again in the morning working out the cargo."

He went below, leaving the boy on deck. The crew were in the forecastle
smoking, with the exception of the cook, who was in the galley over a
little private business of his own.

An hour later the cook went below to prepare for sleep. The other
two men were already in bed, and he was about to get into his when he
noticed that Ralph's bunk, which was under his own, was empty. He went
up on deck and looked round, and, returning below, scratched his nose in
thought.

"Where's the boy?" he demanded, taking Jem by the arm and shaking him.

"Eh?" said Jem, rousing. "Whose boy?"

"Our boy, Ralph," said the cook. "I can't see 'im nowhere. I 'ope 'e
ain't gone overboard, pore little chap."

Jem refusing to discuss the matter, the cook awoke Dobbs. Dobbs swore
at him peacefully, and resumed his slumbers. The cook went up again and
prowled round the deck, looking in all sorts of unlikely places for
the boy. He even climbed a little way into the rigging, and, finding no
traces of him, was reluctantly forced to the conclusion that he had gone
overboard.

"Pore little chap," he said solemnly, looking over the ship's side at
the still water.

He walked slowly aft, shaking his head, and looking over the stern,
brought up suddenly with a cry of dismay and rubbed his eyes. The ship's
boat had also disappeared.

"Wot?" said the two seamen as he ran below and communicated the news.
"Well, if it's gorn, it's gorn."

"Hadn't I better go an' tell the skipper?" said the cook.

"Let 'im find it out 'isself," said Jem, purring contentedly in the
blankets. "It's 'is boat. Go' night."

"Time we 'ad a noo 'un too," said Dobbs, yawning. "Don't you worry your
'ed, cook, about what don't consarn you."

The cook took the advice, and, having made his few simple preparations
for the night, blew out the lamp and sprang into his bunk. Then he
uttered a sharp exclamation, and getting out again fumbled for the
matches and relit the lamp. A minute later he awoke his exasperated
friends for the third time.

"S'elp me, cook," began Jem fiercely.

"If you don't I will," said Dobbs, sitting up and trying to reach the
cook with his clenched fist.

"It's a letter pinned to my pillow," said the cook in trembling tones,
as he held it t