"I wish I hadn't drowned that cat, Dick," he said.
"You won't see it again," said Dick, with the confidence of a man who
had taken every possible precaution to render the prophecy a safe one.
He went below, leaving the skipper at the wheel idly watching the cook
as he performed marvellous feats of jugglery, between the galley and the
fo'c'sle, with the men's breakfast.
A little while later, leaving the wheel to Sam, he went below himself
and had his own, talking freely, to the discomfort of the conscious-
stricken cook, about his weird experiences of the night before.
"You won't see it no more, sir, I don't expect," he said faintly; "I
b'leeve it come and rubbed itself up agin your leg to show it forgave
you."
"Well, I hope it knows it's understood," said the other. "I don't want
it to take any more trouble."
He finished the breakfast in silence, and then went on deck again. It
was still blowing hard, and he went over to superintend the men who were
attempting to lash together some empties which were rolling about in all
directions amidships. A violent roll set them free again, and at the
same time separated two chests in the fo'c'sle, which were standing one
on top of the other. This enabled Satan, who was crouching in the lower
one, half crazed with terror, to come flying madly up on deck and give
his feelings full vent.
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