Part 10 (1/2)

”Oh, I see. I am sorry. You see, I had to find a place where they would give us some dinner. Here, come into my room. This is the place.

It won't be a New York nor a London dinner, but it's the best I can do here, and it won't spoil our chat.”

”Of course not,” replied Lynton, ”and I came for that more than for the eating and drinking.”

”That's right,” said the American bluffly. ”There, come on: this is my room now those Englishmen are gone.”

The mate followed his host, and after a certain amount of patient waiting the dinner was brought in, and he found the American friendly in the extreme, so that the time pa.s.sed quickly, and the hour of departure was close at hand with the guest wis.h.i.+ng that he had asked the captain to make the hour eleven instead of ten for the boat to be sent ash.o.r.e from the brig, which was once more swinging from the buoy in mid-stream.

CHAPTER SIX.

THE FIRST NIGHT ON THE BRIG.

”The night is pleasanter out here on the river, captain,” said Sir Humphrey, as he sat with his brother on the deck in company with the captain and the first mate.

”Yes, sir, one can breathe,” said the gentleman addressed, ”and I can always breathe better out at sea than I can in a river. Well, have you thought of anything else you want from the sh.o.r.e, for time's getting on?”

”No; I have been quite prepared for days,” replied Sir Humphrey. ”What about you, Brace?”

”Oh, I'm ready,” was the reply: ”as ready as Captain Banes.”

”But I'm not, my lad,” said the captain. ”I can't sail without my second officer. By the way, Dellow, did you give orders for the boat to go ash.o.r.e for Lynton at ten o'clock town time?”

”I?” said the first officer staring in the dim light cast by the swinging lanthorn under which they sat talking. ”No. Do you want one sent?”

”Of course,” said the captain tartly. ”I told you to send one.”

”I beg pardon, sir,” replied the first officer. ”When?”

”Tut, tut, tut!” cried the captain angrily, as he glanced at his watch.

”When I came aboard: and it's now half an hour later. How came you to forget?”

”Well, really, sir--” began the first mate warmly. ”Tut, tut, tut!

bless my heart!” cried the captain. ”Really, Dellow, I beg your pardon.

It quite slipped my memory.”

”Indeed, sir,” said the first officer stiffly. ”It did not slip mine.”

”No. How absurd. I forgot all about Lynton. Send a boat ash.o.r.e at once to fetch him off to the brig. He must be waiting.”

”No, sir, he's not waiting, or he would have hailed,” said the first officer, as he strolled off to give the orders, while the two pa.s.sengers, being tired after a very busy day, bade the captain ”good night,” and went below.

”You won't sit up to see us start, then?” said the skipper.

”No, for there will be nothing particular to see,” replied Sir Humphrey.

”I'll keep my admiration till we are well out at sea.”

”And that will be at breakfast-time to-morrow morning, gentlemen. I should not mind turning in for good myself. As it is, I'm just going down to s.n.a.t.c.h a couple of hours before Dellow comes and rouses me up.”