An hour later, with his blanket over his shoulder and his pillow under his arm, Sam again sought his ironclads. Steward, chief cook, clerk--everything had failed. The trunks with the pillow and blanket were all that was left. It was after nine o'clock now, and the summer twilight had faded and only the steamer's lanterns shone on the heads of the people. As he passed the companion-way he ran into a man in an army hat. Backing away in apology he caught the glint of a medal. Then came a familiar voice: "Comrade, where you been keeping yourself? I've been hunting you all over the boat. You're the man gave me the key, ain't you?" "_Sure!_ How's the kid? Is he all right? Didn't I tell you you'd find that up-to-date? It's a cracker-jack, that room is; I've had it before. Tell me, how's the kid and the wife--kind o' comfy, ain't they?" "Both are all right. Freddie's in the lower berth and Kitty sitting by him. He's asleep, and the fever's going down; ain't near so hot as he was. You're white, comrade, all the way through." The man's big hand closed over Sam's in a warm embrace. "I thank you for it. You did us a good turn and we ain't going to forget you." Sam kept edging away; what hurt him most was being thanked. "But that ain't what I've been hunting you for, comrade," the man continued. "You didn't get a state-room, did you?" "No," said Sam, shaking his head and still backing away. "But I'm all right--got a pillow and a blanket--see!" and he held them up. "You needn't worry, old man. This ain't nothing to the way I sleep sometimes. I'm one of those fellows can bunk in anywhere." Sam was now in sight of his trunks. "Yes," answered the man, still keeping close to Sam, "that's just what we thought would happen; that's what _does_ worry us, and worry us bad. You ain't going to bunk in anywhere--not by a blamed sight! Kitty and I have been talking it over, and what Kitty says goes! There's two bunks in that state-room; Kitty's in one 'longside of the boy, and you got to sleep in the other." "Me!--well--but--why, man!" Sam's astonishment took his breath away. "You got to!" The man meant it. "But I won't!" said Sam in a determined voice. "Well, then, out goes Kitty and the boy! You think I'm going to sleep in your bunk, and have you stretched out here on a plank some'ers! No, sir! You _got_ to, I tell you!" "Why, see here!" Sam was floundering about now as helplessly as if he had been thrown overboard with his hands tied. "There ain't no seeing about it, comrade." The man was close to him now, his eyes boring into Sam's with a look in them as if he was taking aim. "You say I've got to get into the upper berth?" asked Sam in a baffled tone. "Yes." Sam ruminated: "When?" "When Kitty gets to bed." "How'll I know?" "I'll come for you." "All right--you'll find me here." Then Sam turned up the deck muttering to himself: "That's one on you, Sam-u-e-l--one under the chin-whisker. Got to--eh? Well, for the love of Mike!"