"No matter for the oddity. Hereafter, breakfast at half-past seven, dinner at half-past eleven, and supper at half-past five," said Captain Scott. "Then either watch will have half an hour for a meal before it goes on duty, and the one relieved can have all the time they want. If we find that half an hour is too much time, we can put the time ahead ten minutes." "The hours you have named are those used in the navy and on board the Guardian-Mother for the ship's company," added Louis. Roast beef with a few vegetables and a pudding was the dinner, and it was highly approved by both watches. The meal was hardly finished by the port watch before all hands became thoroughly conscious of a change in the mood of the Mediterranean Sea, for the little steamer had begun to roll as though she intended to make a complete somerset. With her course about east and the wind south, she spent more than half of her time in the trough of the sea, which is a very uncomfortable place to be in, especially in a small steamer like the Maud. It would not be called a very heavy sea, and it was the direction of the wind rather than the quantity of it which made it uncomfortable on board. The water slopped in over the bulwarks, and Captain Scott, like a prudent shipmaster, made a survey of the deck, taking with him Felix and Don. The scuttles over the run and forecastle were secured in their places, and everything put in order for a gale. CHAPTER XXXI CAPTAIN SCOTT SETS A REEFED FORESAIL The Mediterranean had very suddenly lashed itself into a fury. Nothing movable would stay in place, and everything had to be secured. Rope-yarns were in great demand; and Captain Scott had done everything possible for the safety of the property on board, in the pilot-house, on deck, and in the cabin. At first everything in the galley was pitched into heaps; but Pitts had brought order out of confusion there. By the middle of the afternoon watch, with Morris and Louis on duty, everything had been put in order; for after the captain and Felix believed that all was safe, something would break loose and need further attention. The water-casks had given them the most trouble. Felipe and Pitts had assisted them in putting the half-casks back into the run and securing them there; but the full ones, containing fifty gallons each, were more troublesome. They were blocked up in the standing-room, and made fast with strong ropes; but they still had an inclination to break away.