ivin' gear nor diver aboard,"
replied the skipper, rather regretfully.

"Well, I am not quite so sure about that," observed Cunningham
thoughtfully. "I have the germ of an idea in my head, and will see if I
cannot develop it. Do you happen to have any rubber hose on board?"

"Sure!" replied the skipper. "Got a hundred feet of brand new hose for
washin' decks with. It's a bit extravagant, I know, but I 'low it'll
pay in the long run."

"It most certainly will, and very handsomely too, if I can put my idea
into shape. Have you used the hose at all yet?" asked Cunningham.

"Used it every mornin' since we left Baltimore," replied the skipper.

"Then let me earnestly beg you not to use it any more, just for the
present at least," entreated the engineer.

"Just as you say," answered the skipper cheerfully. "We've got our old
canvas hose stowed away somewhere. I'll have it routed out."

"Right," agreed Cunningham. "And while I'm keeping my watch on deck
I'll think over this scheme of mine. I should rather like you to get
the better of that man--what is his name?--oh yes, Slocum!"

"Yes, that's all right," assented the skipper. "But--look here, if that
there scheme of yourn has to do with divin', Mister, who's goin' to do
the divin'? I don't know nothin' about it."

"But I do," remarked Cunningham cheerfully. "I'll do the diving if I
can only work out this idea that has come to me. And I believe I can."

From this point the conversation drifted away into generalities, and
finally the skipper went below, leaving me in charge of the deck and of
the forenoon watch. Later on Brown informed me that the late mate's
cabin was entirely at my service, while Cunningham was inducted into a
small spare stateroom which was in use as a sort of extra sail-room, but
which the skipper ordered to be cleared out for the engineer's
accommodation. Also, it appeared that when the late mate went overboard
he left behind him a very fine sextant, which the skipper had purchased
at the auction of the effects of the deceased, and this instrument he
allowed me to use.

We, the new arrivals aboard the _Martha Brown_, shook down into our
positions with a degree of promptitude that excited the liveliest
admiration of the skipper. He was a shrewd old fellow, however, and for
the first two days after our arrival he remained on deck all day, and
was frequently up and down during the night, frankly confessing that he
was anxious to ob