Part 63 (1/2)

A feeling of helplessness came over the boys as they saw all this, and realised that now they were, beside the captain and ain and out of a low, hutch-like place forward, the only occupants of the vessel; and that if their captor had any particular designs upon the But they now had proof that this was not going to be the case, for the Frenchman took no further heed to the them with the deck to themselves

”What do you think of it now?” asked Mike dolefully

”I don't know,” said Vince, gazing up at the towering rocks, dotted with yelloort and sea-pink, by which they were surrounded; ”but it's a change I wouldn't care if they only knew at ho safe

I say, isn't it likely that so for us, and then we can signal to hi the cliffs and looked down here?” said Mike

”We've been about as much as any one, but we never looked down into this pool”

”No,” said Vince thoughtfully: ”it puzzles h, look forward: that's the galley, and the chapis the cook”

”Of course,” said Mike; ”there's the chio and see what there is for dinner”

Mike's forehead wrinkled up, and he felt disposed to say so reproachful; but he was silent, and followed his coalley door, where the ri their presence

”What's for dinner, old chap?” said Vince coolly

The sour look on the man's face passed away Vince's countenance, and his free-and-easy way, seeruffly,--

”Lobscouse”

”What, for the skipper?” said Vince, who had a lively memory of the captain's breakfast

”Men,” said the man laconically

”And for the skipper?”

The rireeable steaood soup Then, without a word, he pointed to a dish upon which lay a pair of thick soles, and to another, on which, ready egged and crumbed, were about a dozen neatly prepared veal cutlets

”Got any potatoes,” said Vince

Theaway on the little stove, which was roaring loudly, and put the saucepan down again

”Well, we shan't starve,” said Vince, as they each gave the cook a nod and walked as far forward as they could ”Captain hasn't a bad notion about eating and drinking”

”And s,” said Mike bitterly

”Kidnapping!” said Vince cheerily ”Ah, to be sure, that's the very word: I thought so had been done to us that there's a proper word for That's it, Ladle--kidnapped Yes, we've been kidnapped--I say!”

”Well?”

”Look here: are o chaps worth anything?”

”I don't feel to be now,” said Mike; ”I'h, but I suppose weto feed us well”