Towards the close of the third day the weather became threatening, and the sails were taken in. This set the grumblers at work more busily than ever. Some time before midnight, the watch being in charge of the second mate, Captain Liddle came unaware upon two of the men who were grumbling, and sternly asked them what they were grumbling at. The Lascar was one of the twain, and of course he did not reply; but the other man, being pressed by the captain, pulled at his forelock, and said that the sailors weren't pleased because the voyage had been commenced on their unlucky day. "And that's the cause of this rough weather, eh?" questioned Captain Liddle sarcastically. "Yes, your honor," was the reply. "Why, even the second mate says so." "Does he?" cried Captain Liddle, turning wrathfully upon Scadbolt, who at that moment approached them. "What do you mean, Mr. Scadbolt, by spreading dissatisfaction among the crew?" Brought face to face with the man to whom he had spoken, Scadbolt, who was no coward, gave him a threatening look, and said,-- "Well, sir, I've an objection to setting sail on Friday; and, as you see, the men have the same objection." "I see quite enough to warn you to be careful," said Captain Liddle in a determined tone; "I have warned you before, and I warn you now for the last time. Keep your objections to yourself, sir, and trouble yourself only with your duty.--And you, men, attend to yours, and let me hear no more of this nonsense. You know me well enough to know that I will not be trifled with." The men slouched away, and Scadbolt was obliged to suppress his passion for the time: but it burned the fiercer for that.