"You'd better get below again," said Joe presently.
"There seems to be somebody moving below; and if the skipper sees you,
you're done. He's a regular Tartar, and he's got a brother what's a
sergeant-major in the army. He'd give you up d'rectly if he spotted
you."
"I'm off," said Smith; and with long, cat-like strides he disappeared
swiftly below.
For two days all went well, and Dan was beginning to congratulate
himself upon his little venture, when his peace of mind was rudely
disturbed. The crew were down below, having their tea, when Billy, who
had been to the galley for hot water, came down, white and scared.
"Look here," he said nervously, "I've not had anything to do with this
chap being aboard, have I?"
"What's the matter?" inquired Dan quickly.
"It's all found out," said Billy.
"WHAT!" cried the crew simultaneously.
"Leastways, it will be," said the youth, correcting himself. "You'd
better chuck him overboard while you've got time. I heard the cap'n tell
the mate as he was coming down in the fo'c'sle to-morrow morning to look
round. He's going to have it painted."
"This," said Dan, in the midst of a painful pause, "this is what comes
of helping a fellow-creature. What's to be done?"
"Tell the skipper the fo'c'sle don't want painting," suggested Billy.
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