If there was any advantage it was on the side
of the cruiser, though the Wanderer behaved beautifully.
But the wind steadily rose, and by the time eight bells was struck, and
Neb announced dinner, the Adams was perceptibly gaining.
"Send that boy aft," ordered Gary, and when Ralph appeared the captain
said sneeringly: "You seem to think so much of those black brutes
below, I guess you can help deal out their rations. Go to Long Tom."
That worthy was buckling a brace of revolvers about his person, and had
in his hand a sharp rawhide. Two sailors bore a great basket of corn
bread and ship's hard bread. To Ralph was given a smaller one,
containing meat minutely divided into about two ounce slices.
"'Ere we go," remarked the boatswain, heading for the lower gangway
door.
At this place an armed sentinel stood day and night. As the four
entered, a howl arose not unlike that of caged wild beasts. But it was
more for water than for food.
"Eat first; drink afterwards," said Bludson, striking lightly right and
left to restrain their eagerness. "That's the law aboard here. Mind,
Ralph; one bit of meat apiece--no more."
One sailor bore a lantern, for the only light afforded outside of that
was from the grated hatch above. Amid the half obscurity Ralph saw a
jumble of swart, brutish faces and wildly gleaming eyes, and heard a
babel of guttural sounds suggestive of a savage Bedlam where violence
was restrained only by fear.
Up and down the rows of naked forms they passed, dealing to each one a
ration of bread and meat, scanty and coarse enough, yet sufficient to
sustain life.
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