out of his berth. "Why, the
sun's up!"

"Yes, long enough ago. I've been sleeping as soundly as you, and the
cook has been to say that breakfast will soon be ready."

"How stupid! I meant to have been on deck at daybreak. Where are we--
out at sea?"

"No; as far as I can make out we are not above a mile or two below the
town, and at anchor."

"Why's that?" said Brace, who was dressing hurriedly.

"I don't know, unless the skipper is repenting of his bargain. I was
afraid he was too easy over everything."

"Oh, don't say that," cried Brace, in a disappointed tone.

The brothers were not long before they stepped on deck, to find all
hands looking anxious and strange of aspect, as they stood watching the
captain and first officer.

"Good morning, captain," said Sir Humphrey warmly. "Why, I thought we
were to be out at sea by now."

"It's a bad morning, gentlemen," said the captain, frowning, "and I
don't see how we are to start."

"What!" said Sir Humphrey, frowning and speaking angrily.

"Ah, I thought you'd take it that way, sir," said the skipper, scowling;
"but you're wrong. I'm not going back on what I said."

"Then what does this mean?"

"It means, sir, that I've lost Jem Lynton, my second mate."

"Lost him?" said Brace quickly. "Why, he stopped ashore to spend the
evening with somebody."

"That's right, squire."

"You mean he hasn't come back," said Brace contemptuously.

"No, I don't, sir," said the captain; "because he did come back."

"But you said you had lost him," cried Brace.

"That's right, sir: so I have," the captain answered. "He was to be
fetched back from the shore, as you heard last night."

"Yes, I heard you tell Mr Dellow to send the boat for him," said Brace.
"Well?"

"Boat was sent, sir, and the men say they brought him aboard. That's
right, isn't it, Dellow?" and the captain turned round to his first
officer.

"Quite," said the first mate, who looked very much disturbed, and kept
on wiping his dewy forehead with the back of his hand.

"Tell 'em," said the captain. "Speak out."

"Tom Jinks was with the boat, gen'lemen," said the first mate slowly;
"and he says Mr Lynton come down a bit rolly, as if he'd had too much
dinner. He'd got his collar turned up and his straw hat rammed down
over his eyes. Never said a single word, on'y grunted as he got into
the boat, and give another grunt as he got out and up the side. Then he
went below directly, and they'v