Part 21 (1/2)

”It's that cook of misfortune, who has just fallen on the compa.s.s!”

replied Tom.

At those words d.i.c.k Sand, in the greatest anxiety, leaned over the binnacle. It was in good condition; the compa.s.s, lighted by two lamps, rested as usual on its concentric circles.

The young novice was greatly affected. The breaking of the only compa.s.s on board would be an irreparable misfortune.

But what d.i.c.k Sand could not observe was that, since the taking away of the piece of iron, the needle had returned to its normal position, and indicated exactly the magnetic north as it ought to be under that meridian.

Meanwhile, if Negoro could not be made responsible for a fall which seemed to be involuntary, d.i.c.k Sand had reason to be astonished that he was, at that hour, aft in the s.h.i.+p.

”What are you doing there?” he asked him.

”What I please,” replied Negoro.

”You say----” cried d.i.c.k Sand, who could not restrain his anger.

”I say,” replied the head cook, ”that there is no rule which forbids walking aft.”

”Well, I make that the rule,” replied d.i.c.k Sand, ”and I forbid you, remember, to come aft.”

”Indeed!” replied Negoro.

That man, so entirely under self-control, then made a menacing gesture.

The novice drew a revolver from his pocket, and pointed it at the head cook.

”Negoro,” said he, ”recollect that I am never without this revolver, and that on the first act of insubordination I shall blow out your brains!”

At that moment Negoro felt himself irresistibly bent to the deck.

It was Hercules, who had just simply laid his heavy hand on Negoro's shoulder.

”Captain Sand,” said the giant, ”do you want me to throw this rascal overboard? He will regale the fishes, who are not hard to please!”

”Not yet,” replied d.i.c.k Sand.

Negoro rose as soon as the black's hand no longer weighed upon him.

But, in pa.s.sing Hercules:

”Accursed negro,” murmured he, ”I'll pay you back!”

Meanwhile, the wind had just changed; at least, it seemed to have veered round forty-five degrees. And, notwithstanding, a singular thing, which struck the novice, nothing in the condition of the sea indicated that change. The s.h.i.+p headed the same way all the time, but the wind and the waves, instead of taking her directly aft, now struck her by the larboard quarter--a very dangerous situation, which exposes a s.h.i.+p to receive bad surges. So d.i.c.k Sand was obliged to veer round four points to continue to scud before the tempest.

But, on the other hand, his attention was awakened more than ever. He asked himself if there was not some connection between Negoro's fall and the breaking of the first compa.s.s. What did the head cook intend to do there? Had he some interest in putting the second compa.s.s out of service also? What could that interest be? There was no explanation of that. Must not Negoro desire, as they all desired, to land on the American coast as soon as possible?

When d.i.c.k Sand spoke of this incident to Mrs. Weldon, the latter, though she shared his distrust in a certain measure, could find no plausible motive for what would be criminal premeditation on the part of the head cook.

However, as a matter of prudence, Negoro was well watched. Thereafter he attended to the novice's orders and he did not risk coming aft in the s.h.i.+p, where his duties never called him. Besides, Dingo having been installed there permanently, the cook took earn to keep away.