“Don’t be a fool! we must get out of these state-rooms; and that’s the only way to do it. But I don’t think O’Hara will be very hard on us. Of course he won’t attempt to punish us. He has offered us the freedom of the deck under the eye of the boatswain; and we must accept that, if we can’t get any thing better. I want to be where I can have a talk with my cousin. I don’t expect O’Hara will restore us to our positions as first and third officers, for those places are now filled by fellows from the Josephine. All I want is to get out of this state-room: don’t you see?” “I see; but I don’t want to go down on my knees to a fellow from the Tritonia. I will do any thing you say; and I can stand it if you can.” “I can stand it well enough when the thing is done for a purpose,” replied Gregory very cheerfully. “I will do the talking when we are before the mighty Capt. O’Hara. Leave it to me.” Clinch was entirely willing to leave it to his friend. “I have been figuring things up a little since the steamer sailed,” continued Gregory. “What day of the month is this, Clinch?” “The 21st: I heard one of the fellows at the table say so at dinner,” replied Clinch. “Good! then we shall not get to Funchal till the 26th or 27th. At that time the squadron will have been out over a fortnight, nearly three weeks. I have no idea that Mr. Lowington will stay in Funchal so long,” argued Gregory. “He will start the fleet for the Western Islands, or wherever he is going next, and leave orders there for the absentees to follow him.” “That may be; and you think he will be gone when we get there?” mused Clinch. “I am almost sure of it. He will get news by the regular steamer from the Ville d’Angers; and he won’t wait for her. When we reach Madeira, we must get away from the vessel. I am sure my cousin will help us out; and we will join them on their trip.” This was entirely satisfactory to Clinch; and, as soon as he saw the bearing of the “back-down,” he was willing even to kiss O’Hara’s toe in order to forward the plan. Gregory was an inventive genius; and, before the first half of the last dog-watch had expired, he had improved upon his plan, and decided to put it in operation at once. He was so impatient that he was not willing to wait till the next day. He did not feel quite as well as usual; and he really wished he was a little sicker than he was. This suggested a way to get at the captain at once. He could easily make himself a little sicker than he was. He had formerly been subject to a certain kind of headache; and he carried in his bag a medicine the family physician had given him before he left home. It always produced nausea to a considerable degree. He took a dose of it; and in a short time he was sick in real earnest. Possibly his confinement in his room had made him more susceptible to nausea.