“Eight, sir.” “Have we eaten all these since?” “Yes, sir.” “Well,” said Jiggins, “all day yesterday I only ate one ham sandwich, and to-day only a turkey drumstick, except at O’Rafferty’s.” “I ate a mince pie yesterday,” said Billymack “and another one to-day--that’s all.” “Well, well, I’m not inquiring into what you ate, boys,” said Mr. Long, good-humoredly. “I was only amazed to find that our stores had gone so fast. We’ll have to live on clams, or go home, unless we can buy some provisions here. Well, well,” he concluded, with a sigh, “we’ll have to attack this ham bone. Here, cook; isn’t there any more ham left?” “One more, sir.” “Any pie?” “A half of a mince pie, sir.” “Hm--well--we’ll have to wait till to-morrow--that’s all. It’s my own fault, I suppose. I didn’t make allowance for the appetites of growing boys.” “Especially of the cook and steward,” growled Bogud. They had to bear with their disappointment as best they could. The cook and steward looked very meek and subdued, for though nothing was said, yet they felt that they were under a ban. The repast consisted of nothing but bread and butter, and ham, and cold water. But still, as they all had excellent appetites, they ate with a relish what was before them, and had no trouble, except about provisioning the ship for the future. It was tacitly understood, however, that Sammy Ram Ram and Johnny Blue should be henceforth relieved from these onerous and responsible duties. The repast was at length finished, and Messrs. Simmons and Long went aside to take another look at their beloved specimens, and speculate upon the probabilities of gold-mining at the Five Islands. The others sat round the fire. Captain Corbet sat, with a patriarchal smile, surveying the young faces around him. The mate sat among a crowd of noisy lads, who were trying to draw him out. “Yes,” he said, in continuation of some statement which he was making, “it’s true. I’m tellin’--” “And that’s your name--is it?” asked Billymack. “My name’s Wade,” said the mate, “an’ my old ’oman’s name’s Gipson; and ye’ll not find many of that name in this counthry. No, sir.” “But how can your name be Wade, and your old ’oman’s name be Gipson?” “How? because my name _is_ Wade, and me old ’oman’s name _is_ Gipson.” “But she’s your wife--ain’t she?” “My own wife--married be me brother the praste.” “Then she must be Mrs. Wade.” “I tell ye her name’s Gipson.” “If she’s your wife, she must be named Wade.” “I tell ye _me_ name’s Wade, and me old ’oman’s name’s Gipson; an’ ye’ll not find many o’ that name in this counthry.” And so the mate prosed on, unable to see that his wife’s name was the same as his own.