Brandon of the Engineers

The room was lighted, and the door and windows were half open because the

night was hot. Carelessly glancing in, Dick saw Don Sebastian sitting at

the table with the captain and engineer. This somewhat surprised him, for

the purser transacted the ship's business and, so far as he knew, none of

the other guests had been taken to the captain's room. He felt puzzled

about Don Sebastian, whom he had met once or twice. The fellow had an air

of authority and the smaller officials treated him with respect.

Something in the men's attitude indicated that they were talking

confidentially, and Dick thought he had better go away without attracting

their attention; but just then the captain turned in his chair and looked

out. Dick decided to wait until he looked round again, and next moment

Don Sebastian asked: "Have you plenty coal?"

"I think so," the engineer replied. "The after-bunkers are full, but I'd

have taken a few extra barge-loads here only I didn't want any of the

shore peons to see how much I'd already got."

Dick did not understand this, because coal was somewhat cheaper and the

facilities for shipping it were better at the boat's next port of call,

to which it was only a two-days' run. Then the captain, who turned to Don

Sebastian, remarked: "Making the sailing list prominent was a happy thought, and it was lucky

your friends backed us up well by their speeches. You saw how I took

advantage of the lead they gave me, but I hope we haven't overdone the

thing."

"No," said Don Sebastian thoughtfully; "I imagine nobody suspects

anything yet."

"Perhaps you had better clear the ship soon, sir," said the engineer.

"Steam's nearly up and it takes some coal----"

The room door slipped off its hook and swung wide open as the vessel

rolled, and Dick, who could not withdraw unnoticed, decided to light his

cigarette in order that the others might see that they were not alone. As

he struck the match the captain got up.

"Who's that?" he asked.

"One of the foreign passengers, I expect; the mates can't keep them off

this deck," the engineer replied. "I don't suppose the fellow knows

English, but shall I send him down?"

"I think not. It might look as if we were afraid of being overheard."

Dick held the match to his cigarette for a moment or two before he threw

it away, and as he walked past noted that Don Sebastian had come out on

deck. Indeed, he thought the man had seen his face and was satisfied,

because he turned back into the room. Dick went down a ladder to the deck

below, where he stopped and thought over what he had heard. It was plain

that some precautions had been taken against the risk of capture, but he

could not understand why Don Sebastian had been told about them.