“No, but several persons are going to see your finish when you come out,” answered Dan. “We’re going to string you to the yardarm.”
“Then we’ll keel-haul you, whatever that is.”
“I demand to be put in chains. Then I can’t go for butter.”
“We really ought to have a brig,” said Nelson.
“What’s that?” asked Tom anxiously. “Can you eat it?”
“It’s a place where they confine sailors that don’t behave themselves, a sort of prison cell.”
“Huh,” answered Dan, “that would be a prison cell on us; Tommy would eat up everything in there and then we’d have to knock the box to pieces to get him out.”
“Well,” said Tom in an aggrieved voice, “if I can’t be put in chains I refuse to mutiny.”
So he went for butter instead. Bob volunteered to start breakfast and Tom got into the tender and paddled off into the fog on his errand.
“If I get lost,” he called, “you must blow the whistle so I’ll know where to find you.”
“All right,” Nelson answered. “Only you’ll have to let us know.”
“Sure; I’ll send you a telegram.” And Tom disappeared whistling gayly.
The others finished dressing, and then, while Bob started the fire, found the bacon and sliced bread, made the coffee and set the table, Dan and Nelson pulled the deck awning out of the locker and set about spreading it over the stanchions. It had not been used before on the present trip and it took them some time to solve the intricacies of it. But finally it was in place, Dan had wiped the chairs and seat until they were comparatively dry and Nelson had tended to the lanterns. By that time breakfast was ready and Tom had been gone a full half hour.
“How far is the store?” asked Dan impatiently.
“Oh, just a little ways,” said Bob. “Maybe, though, it wasn’t open when he got there.”
“More likely he’s gone and got lost in the fog,” said Nelson anxiously. “If he doesn’t show up pretty soon, let’s eat. I’m starving.”
So, when ten minutes more had passed without Tom’s appearance, the three sat down to breakfast. By that time Dan was so hungry that he didn’t care whether there was any butter or not. They finished the meal and returned to the deck.
“Maybe we’d better start the whistle,” suggested Dan.
“If we call out it will do just as well,” said Bob. “Come on, all together!”