“But I cooked two for you; and, if you did not get two, it is because the steward did not bring both of them to you,” protested Beafbon earnestly. “I mean to obey all orders; and I know you want two of those small steaks as well as I know my own name.” “Pollish again! I think he stole my breakfast this morning too,” added Capt. Bendig. “What have you done with that other steak, Pollish? for you have not had time to eat it since I was called, and I have had my eye on you since I came below.” “I haven’t touched the steaks, sir,” pleaded poor Pollish; and Wade really felt bad to have him falsely charged with the theft; but then, what was a hungry boy to do? “Don’t lie, Pollish! you did the same thing this morning.” “No, sir, neither then nor now; and I am willing to take my oath there were two slices on the dish when I put it on the table,” replied the steward. “Get me another steak, Beafbon: we will settle these matters when we have more time than now.” The captain went on deck to wait for the rest of his dinner. CHAPTER XXI. THE GHOST OF THE STATE-ROOM. When the other steak was ready, Capt. Bendig came down to attend to it. By this time Wade had made away with his share of the late dinner; and he was sure, if the captain was as hungry as he had been, he enjoyed the meal. As the captain had all he wanted, he could not complain of Wade; and up to the present time he had not done so. The “Housatonic” was in sight, and this cruise would soon come to an end. Wade thought it was possible that he might get back to New York without being discovered; for the captain seemed to have no use for the old garments under the berth. The captain finished the second edition of his dinner, and then went into the cabin. The passengers seemed to stay there from the fear that some passing vessel might see them; at least, Wade wondered that they did not go on deck when the weather was so fine. Even in his hiding-place, he could realize the nervousness of the party. “I think we shall have to keep moving till after dark,” said Capt. Bendig, as he passed into the cabin. “Why so?” asked Mrs. Wallgood, who seemed to be more inclined to talk than the rest of the party. “It is hardly safe to put you on board of the ship in broad daylight, when there are so many vessels about,” replied the skipper of the yacht. “But no one will know who we are,” suggested the lady. “That is very true; but if a vessel should report in New York that a yacht had transferred several passengers to an outward-bound ship, somebody would want to know what it all meant; and there are pilot-boats about here which may know the ship. We can just as well wait till after dark; and we shall not have to wait long. Besides, there is a steamer off to the southward of us, that looks like the revenue-cutter; and these fellows are always poking their noses in where they are not wanted.”