y to the deck, followed by the
boys. He was a small, swarthy man, in great contrast to the captain. He
looked like a Spaniard. His hair was black and he wore a mustache and
goatee, and his small, black eyes were as alert as a cat's and seemed to
take in everything at once in all parts of the ship. His expression was
one of keen shrewdness, but there was a look of care and anxiety that
softened it. His actions and manner were those of a man who does not
wish to attract attention. As they reached the deck he turned to the
boys, and bowing, said with a slight foreign accent:

"Good morning, young gentlemen. I hope you rested well after your
unfortunate experience. The captain says you are to have the run of the
ship. Make yourselves at home, and if there is anything that I can do to
add to your pleasure, pray call upon me without reserve."

His voice was soft, and he spoke with a great politeness of manner.

"He's too smooth," whispered Mason. "He will bear watching."

The mate did not seem inclined to further conversation. He bowed again,
waved his hand as if to indicate that the ship was theirs, and turned
and walked to the bridge.

The boys looked around them. There was nothing to be seen but an expanse
of water. There was not a sign of land or a vessel. The storm of the
night before had subsided, except that the waves were still running
high under a brightly shining sun. Harry put his hand to his eyes to
shade them, and scanned the horizon in every direction, but there was
not even a speck to be seen.

"The captain was right when he said there was not much danger of losing
our company," he said, as he finished his observation.

"Unless we jump over and swim for it."

"What would we swim for?"

"I am very well satisfied to keep the planks under my feet and wait for
something to turn up."

"Me, too," piped the Midget. "Let's make a round of the ship."

The steamer was comparatively small. In the darkness of the night and
the storm, and viewed from the little sloop, she had looked like an
ocean liner as she suddenly came upon them. Everything about her was
spick and span. The decks were as clean as holy stone and water could
make them, and all the brasswork shone brightly in the sun. The decks
seemed strangely deserted. Suarez, the mate, paced the bridge stolidly.
On the forward deck two men were on lookout. In the pilot-house a sailor
stood at the wheel, while behind him stood a man whose eyes roamed
constan