“Well,” said Jack, “I heard two of the sailors talking in a very mysterious manner.  They say the ‘Eagle’ is hoodooed and the captain knows it.  They say he has not slept any to speak of since we left New York.”

“Sailors are always superstitious.  They are ignorant, as a rule, and ignorance breeds superstition.”

“Do you consider Mr. Slush ignorant?” asked Bruce.

“Didn’t have time to size him up, but he’s queer.”

“I shall feel that I am over a volcano during the rest of the voyage,” said Jack.  “What if there was somebody on board who wished to destroy the ship?”

“It wouldn’t be much of a job,” grunted Browning.  “A match touched to a powder keg would do the trick in a hurry.”

“But he’d go up with the rest of us,” said Frank.

“Unless he used a slow match,” put in Jack.  “These captains always have their enemies, who are desperate fellows and ready to do almost anything to injure them.  The steamer might be set afire by means of a slow match, which would give the villain time enough to get away.”

“I hardly think there’s anybody desperate enough to do that kind of a trick, for it would be a case of suicide.”

“Perhaps not.  The chap who did the trick might have some plan of escaping.  Then I have known men desperate enough to commit suicide if they could destroy an enemy at the same time.”

“Well, it’s likely all this worry about this vessel and cargo is entirely needless and foolish.”

“I don’t believe it,” said the Virginian.  “I know now that the captain has been worried.  I have noticed it in his manner.  He is pale and restless.”

“Well, it’s likely he may be rather anxious, for it’s certain he cannot carry any insurance on such a cargo.”

“He was not at the table to-night.”

“No.”

“I’d give something to be on solid ground and away from this powder mill.  You know that sometimes there is such a thing as an unaccountable explosion.  A heavy sea must cause motion or friction in the cargo, and friction often starts a fire on shipboard.  Fire on this vessel means a quick road to glory.”

“Huah!” grunted Bruce.  “I’m not in the habit of worrying about things that may happen.  It’s cold out here.  Let’s go back to the stateroom.”

“It will be well enough to keep still about the nature of the cargo, Diamond,” said Frank.

“Oh, I shall keep still about that all right!” assured Jack.

As they moved back along the deck they discovered somebody who was leaning over the rail and making all sorts of dismal sounds and groans.

“The next time I go to Europe I’ll stay at home!” moaned this individual.  “Oh, my! oh, my!  How bad I feel!  Next that comes will be the shaps of my twos—­I mean the taps of my shoes!”

“It’s Rattles!” laughed Frank, softly; “and he is sicker than ever.  He’s tried to crawl out to get some air.”