necessary to otherwise dispose of me. These considerations were in the
main reassuring, and as I turned them over in my mind I drifted into
better humor. Besides, my head had ceased to ache, and a little
exercise put my numbed limbs into fair condition.

It was fully an hour after the coming of darkness before I was
disturbed. Then the door opened, and the entering gleam of a light
swinging in the passage revealed the grinning negro steward bearing a
well-filled tray. This he deposited in the berth, while applying a
match to the lamp overhead. I saw no shadow of any guard outside, but
the fellow made no effort to close the door, and I did not move,
confident he was not alone. As he turned to go, however, curiosity
compelled me to question him, his good-natured face provocative of
courage.

"Say, George, what boat is this?"

"Mah name is Louis, sah."

"All right, Louis, then; what's the name of this vessel?"

"She am de _Sea Gull_, an' a mighty fin' boat, sah."

"So I judge; what is she, fruiter, or private yacht?"

"I reckon I don't just know," and he grinned.

"Perhaps then you will inform me where we are bound--I suppose you know
that?"