14 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

steward. That’s all there is about it, except, maybe, that
after the captain died off Great Natunas we kind of
broached the cabin stores in a way that wouldn't have
pleased the owners.”

“Case of living aft, I suppose; making free with that
part of the medical stores which comes under the head
of grog, sometimes?”

«Well, yes, a little like that, I will admit. You see
the first officer died before we come through the Straits
of Sunda, an’ the captain was sick then. The second
mate was in charge; up to that time he had showed him-
self to be an able seaman, but the mornin’ we sewed the
old man into his hammock, tiltin’ him off the gratin’
without any too much ceremony, he got to lushin’, an’
what was the rest of us to do? We didn’t count on
givin’ him the full swing, do all the work an’ let him enjoy
himself, without we had our share of the grub, so we took
it. Forty days’ workin’ up through Sunda—TI don’t
mean to say we had much of a hand in it, for the old
hooker was takin’ care of herself most of the time, and
when the mate sobered up a bit, he begun to realise the
craft wasn’t jest fit for port. We headed her for Nam-
pang Island, made everything snug, an’ left her where I
reckon she’ll stay till the owners send out some one to
take charge.”

“Didn't care to take up your wages?”

“ Not much after sich a spree, for we’d found ourselves.
in the cooler mighty soon after comin’ to anchor where
there was a consul.”