"
After that Tom led the way to the cook's galley, a mere closet of a
place just abaft the foremast. In entering one went down two or three
steps. Here they found Neb (short for Nebraska), the cook, a short,
fat jolly looking negro, who with his stove and cooking utensils so
completely filled up the place that Ralph was puzzled to see how the
man ever managed to cook at all. Every bit of space was utilized,
however. There were drawers and lockers under shelves and tables,
while overhead were swinging racks for dishes and provisions.
"Hi, Marse Tom, who be dat yo' got dar? One er dese yere shore kids?"
"Yes, he's a shore kid, Neb. Him and me haven't had any dinner. Can't
you shake us up a bit of something. Salt horse and skilly will do, if
nothin' else is handy."
Neb was acquiescent and the boatswain and his charge were soon
discussing a hearty meal with molasses, vinegar and water for a
beverage instead of coffee.
After that Bludson took Ralph aft and introduced him to the second
mate, Mr. Duff, a slim, active, pleasant looking young man of four and
twenty, who was superintending the coiling of a spare cable in a cuddy
hole beneath the wheel.
"New boy, eh," said he, giving Ralph a brief but keen inspection. "I
thought the captain swore that he wanted no more boys, after Bunty gave
him the slip."
Bunty, Ralph afterward learned, had run away at a foreign port with a
small sum of money not his own.
"Cap'n's changed his mind then, sir," returned Tom, "He said as 'e
wanted p'tickler care taken of this kid, and he was to wait in the
cabin till 'e gets his sea legs on so to speak.
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