your coming to-night that you have something to tell me." "Yes, sir; I have; and I will give you the whole Gulf of Mexico if it isn't a big thing," replied Dave with his most expansive smile. 090 "You done get into a hornet's nest, Captain Passford." 090 "Not so bad as that, I hope," replied Christy, laughing. "Bad enough, sir, at any rate," added Dave. "Pink Mulgrum has been talking and listening to the second lieutenant all the evening." "Then he is not a deaf mute, I take it." "Not a bit of it; he can talk faster than I can, and he knows all about his grammar and dictionary. You have just eight traitors on board of the Bronx, Captain Passford," said Dave very impressively. "Only eight?" "That's all I know about; and I think that is enough for one cruise in a Yankee ship." "Eight will do very well, Dave; but who are they?" asked the captain with interest. "I know just three of them. One is the second lieutenant; Pink Mulgrum is another, and Spoors, one of the quartermasters, is the third. They didn't mention any more of them." "All right, Dave; now sit down on that stool, and tell me the whole story," said Christy, pointing to the seat. 091 The steward, believing that he had done a "big thing" that evening, did not hesitate to seat himself in the presence of the commander, and proceeded at once to relate all that he had done, and all that he had seen and heard on the bridge. When Dave had finished his story, and answered the questions put to him, the commander was willing to believe that he had done a big thing; though he said nothing beyond a few words of general commendation to the steward. Then he dismissed him, and, locking his desk, he went on deck. After taking an observation of the weather he mounted the bridge. 091 092 092 CHAPTER VIII
Prev.
Back
Top