Mother Careys Chicken | Page 9

sea."
"But you've plenty of other things, sir."
"Humph, yes! We manage to live. More sugar?"
"No, sir, thanks."
"Help yourself, my lad. Rum un, aren't I?"
"You don't expect me to say what I think, do you?" said Mark smiling.
"One to you, boy," said the mate, nodding; and this time there was a vestige of a smile on his plain face. "Here, ugly, try that."
This was the outside of a big piece of gristly steak which the mate cut off, and held toward the dog, who approached slowly and as if in doubt, but ended by taking it.
"Yah! What are you sniffing at? Think there was mustard on it? Big friends, I suppose, you and him?"
"Yes, sir, we're capital friends."
"Humph! Better make friends with a good lad of your age. I hate dogs. What are you laughing at?"
"You, sir."
"Eh? Oh! I see!" paid the mate grimly. "I do, though, all the same. Don't you believe it?"
"No," replied Mark smiling; "and Bruff does not believe it either."
For after the mate had given the dog a couple of pieces of steak, Bruff had stopped by him and laid the heavy head upon his knee to patiently wait for further consignments of cargo, which, however, did not come, for the chief officer was thoughtfully stirring his tea with his left hand, while his right, as he said he hated dogs, was involuntarily rubbing the rough jowl, the process being so satisfactory that Bruff half-closed his eyes.
"Humph! This seems a better dog than some," said the mate. "No business on board ship, though. I don't even like chickens; but we're obliged to put up with them. I'm always glad, though, when they're eaten. I once went a voyage with a cow on deck. They wanted the milk for an officer's lady and her children. That cow used to make me melancholy."
"Why, sir? Was she such a bad sailor?"
"No; she was always stretching out her neck to try and lick some green paint off one of the boats. Thought it was grass. Cows have no brains. Hallo! What is it, Billy?"
"Mr Morgan wants you, sir."
"What is it?"
"One on 'em, sir, right below."
"Bah!" ejaculated the mate. "Coming directly. Let him wait till I've finished my tea."
The sailor gave Mark a knowing look, and made a sign which the lad did not comprehend, as he disappeared through the door.
Mark would have given something to ask who "one on 'em" was, for the news seemed to have ruffled the mate terribly. A few minutes before he had been growing quite friendly; now he was as gruff as ever, finishing his steak viciously, and drinking his tea far hotter than was good for him.
"I'd like to trice them all up and give them the cat," he exclaimed suddenly, and with so much emphasis that at the last magic word Bruff suddenly sprang into action, cocked his ears and tail, uttered a fierce growling bark, and then looked excitedly from one to the other, his eyes plainly enough asking the question "Where?"
"Get out with you, ugly!" cried the mate. "I meant the cat with nine tails, not the cat with nine lives. Here, young Strong, whatever you do, never take to being mate in the merchant service."
He went out on deck, and Mark followed him, eager to see what was the matter; and as he passed out, it was to hear the second-mate say:
"I was coming after you; the poor wretch's groans are awful."
"Serve him right, the scoundrel! Government ought to interfere and put a stop to it."
"But, my dear Gregory, hadn't we better get the poor wretch out, and settle the government interference afterwards?"
"These men make me half mad," cried the first-mate. "Where do you suppose he is?"
"A long way down, I'm afraid."
"And we are behind with our lading. How can a man be such an idiot as to expose himself to such risks?" cried the first-mate.
"Sheer ignorance. If they thought they were likely to be crushed to death or suffocated, they would not do it."
"What is the matter?" asked Mark anxiously.
"Stowaway, my lad," said the second-mate. "Man hidden himself in the hold, and is frightened now the cargo has been packed over him."
A peculiar chill ran through Mark as he realised the horror of the man's position, perhaps below the huge bales and cases which he had seen lowered down into the hold, and so inclosed that it would be impossible to get to him before life was extinct.
CHAPTER FIVE.
HOW BRUFF SHOWED HE HAD A NOSE.
As Mark reached the great opening in the deck it was to find that the men who had been at work below were all clustered together listening and waiting for instructions from their officers.
"Hush! Don't speak!" cried the first-mate, bending over the opening. "Are you sure it isn't a cat?"
A low deep moaning sound that was smothered