"Say on, then," said the captain coolly.
"We should like to know about that little keg of brandy. Is it
being kept for the porpoises or the officers?"
Finding that he obtained no reply, he went on,--
"Look here, captain, what we want is to have our grog served out
every morning as usual."
"Then you certainly will not," said the captain.
"What! what!" exclaimed Owen, "don't you mean to let us have
our grog?"
"Once and for all, no."
For a moment, with a malicious grin upon his lips, Owen stood
confronting the captain; then, as though thinking better of
himself, he turned round and rejoined his companions, who were
still talking together in an undertone.
When I was afterwards discussing the matter with Curtis I asked
him whether he was sure he had done right in refusing the brandy.
"Right!" he cried, "to be sure I have. Allow those men to have
brandy! I would throw it all overboard first."
CHAPTER XXXIV.
DECEMBER 21st.--No further disturbance has taken place amongst
the men. For a few hours the fish appeared again, and we caught
a great many of them, and stored them away in an empty barrel.
This addition to our stock of provisions makes us hope that food,
at least, will not fail us.
Usually the nights in the tropics are cool, but to-day, as
evening drew on, the wonted freshness did not return, but the,
air remained stifling and oppressive, whilst heavy masses of
vapour hung over the water.
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