t a dozen others sought
out Captain Fretwood, who was in his private cabin.

"What is it?" demanded the officer, eying the crowd sourly.

"We have come to complain of the food served at dinner," said Dick.
"It was so poor we could not eat it."

"Oh, the food is all right," answered the captain in an overbearing tone.

"No, it is not all right," put in Harold Bird.

"We paid for first-class accommodations and we want first-class food,"
put in Tom, with spirit.

"That's the talk," came from several in the crowd.

"See here, I am not to be dictated to by a lot of boys!" cried Captain
Fretwood, angrily. "We are giving you good food, and that is all
there is to it."

"It's a fraud!" cried Sam.

"A downright imposition," added Songbird.

"Our tickets read 'First Cabin with Meals,'" said Fred. "Those meals
aren't good enough for steerage passengers. Unless you give us
something better--"

"Ha! do you threaten me on my own ship?" bellowed the captain.

"We certainly do!" said Dick, as Fred glanced at him questioningly.

"I can put you in irons for it, young man!"

"No, you can't. We are not going to touch you or any of your crew.
But unless you serve us with first-class food from now on I, for one,
shall make a complaint against you as soon as we land, and have you
arrested."

At this announcement the face of the captain of the _Mascotte_ grew
purple with rage. He stepped forward as if to strike Dick. But the
latter stood his ground, looked the irate officer full in the eyes,
and the man paused.

"We have had trouble enough without your adding to it," said Harold
Bird. "We ask only that which is due us."

"The young man is perfectly right," said an elderly passenger. "The
food is horrible. If he makes a complaint to the authorities I shall
sustain him."

"So will I," added several.

"All right, have your own way," grumbled the captain. "I see you are
bound to get me in a hole. If the food wasn't good it was the fault
of the cook."

"He says it is your fault, and he is going to leave you at the end
of this trip."

"Bah! Well, we'll see. If he can't serve the food properly cooked
I'll be glad to get rid of him."

After that an all-around discussion ensued, lasting quarter of an
hour. Led by the boys the passengers were very outspoken, and as a
consequence the next meal was fairly good, although not exactly
first-class.

"We tuned him up, that's certain," said Sam.

"I am glad you did," said a pas