The captain told Mr. Freeman what Dick was to do, and then went below for his nap. Out on the jib-boom, Dick performed his allotted task. What was passing in the boy’s mind, it would be hard to tell from the expression of his face. Resentment against Captain Maxwell? Scarcely. He seemed rather to be studying over some project. Now his lips moved, as though talking to himself. Then would follow a low chuckle, as of satisfaction at solving some intricate problem. At such moments, his knitted brows became smooth, and the chains were pounded with a vigor that seemed to give a kind of pleasure to the worker. Once or twice his revery was disturbed by a fancied footstep, and he furtively glanced around to see if anyone was watching. Three bells had struck some little time before a hail from the deck attracted Dick’s attention. “Jib-boom, there!” “Aye, aye, sir.” “Time’s up, Dick. You must like to pound chains.” It was the second mate who spoke. Dick felt for the foot-ropes, and remembering Mr. Freeman’s injunction not to let the marline-spike go overboard, he slung it round his neck, and made his way to the deck. “Where are your ears, Dick?” “On my head, sir.” “No impudence, you lubber! Next time I’ll let you work till we make port. Hand over that marline-spike.” “Yes, sir. Will you please tell me something, Mr. Freeman?” “Maybe so, if I can. The mate says I don’t know anything.” “I want to know, sir, how you send off those signal-lights, what I was forbid to touch. Are they like Roman candles?” Freeman took hold of the youth’s arm, and said sternly, “Dick Lewis, don’t you ever think of those things. Why, d— it, you’re as crazy as a loon about fire-works! If you’ve got any more stowed away in the fo’k’sl, it’ll go hard with you. I’ve got nothing against you, Dick, but if I hear any more talk like this, it’s my duty to report to the captain. You’ll soon be in irons, at this rate.” “I was only fooling, sir. Please don’t give me away.” “’Vast talking, and go below. The watch is half over now.” Dick disappeared into the forecastle, and Freeman meditated for some time over the possible meaning of the boy’s peculiar talk. “He’ll bear watching,” he mused. “I’d better tell Bohlman not to send him into the lazarette, on any account. No, I won’t, either; the Dutchman’s too d—d arrogant, and thinks he knows it all. I’d only be told to mind my own business.” Freeman had just reached this decision in regard to Dick, when a Greek sailor called Asso approached, and asked for more bath-brick.