Captain Scott went back to the cabin, followed by Felix, and both of them were soon fast asleep again. Pitts drew off the water from the jar, and went to work in the galley; but it was eight o'clock when breakfast was ready, for the cook had been delayed by the water question. The table was set in the cabin at the last moment, so that the sleepers might not be disturbed; and they were called only when the meal was ready. Morris had just relieved the helm, and he insisted that Louis should go to breakfast first. The captain took his place at the head of the table, with Morris on his right and Louis on his left. Pitts left them to take care of themselves while he served the meal for the engineers; for they had decided to breakfast together in the engine-room, where a shelf served as a table. "This is not bad for a beginning," said Captain Scott, as he seated himself and looked over the dishes on the table. "Ham and eggs are to my mind, though I served them half the time on board of the Seahound. They look very nice, and Pitts appears to be a good cook." "I don't believe we shall starve, or suffer from thirst, in spite of the water famine," added Morris. "The praties are moighty foine," said Felix. "Ye's couldn't get a betther male in an Oirish castle." "What's an Irish castle, Flix?" asked Morris. "A noice bit of a house tin fate shquare, wid a thatched roof and a mood flure." "But they have water to boil their potatoes in an Irish castle," added the captain. "Faix, they have; the foinest wather in the wurruld." "But we mustn't stay here too long to talk; for the owner of the Guardian-Mother is at the wheel, and it is time for the starboard watch to go on duty," said Captain Scott, as he broke open a hot biscuit. Not much ceremony was used at the meal, and it was soon finished. As the trio passed the engine-room on their way to the forecastle, a flood of Spanish speech struck their ears, and it was evident that the engineers were enjoying their morning meal. As soon as the steward saw the captain he hastened aft to rearrange the table; and Louis was served as elegantly as became the dignity of a ship-owner, though he put on no airs. He ate his breakfast alone; but he had a good appetite, for he had been up since the morning watch was called at four o'clock. By nine o'clock Pitts had cleared the tables, and put everything in good order in the galley. His head was still full of the water-casks, and he went to the standing-room to examine them again. They were simply dried up when the water was drawn into them from the tanks. In six hours they had drained themselves empty, which was a leakage from each of only about four gallons an hour; but he wondered that Mr. Gaskette, who had superintended the work of putting them in the run, had not discovered the condition of the casks.