It was not long ere Neb came to announce that supper was ready.  Sennit had made but an indifferent dinner, it would seem, and he appeared every way disposed to take his revenge on the present occasion.  Calling out to me to follow, he led the way, cheerfully, into the cabin, professing great satisfaction at finding we were to make but one mess of it.  Strictly speaking, a prize crew, under circumstances like those in which the Dawn was now placed, had no right to consume any portion of the vessel’s own stores, condemnation being indispensable to legalize Lord Harry Dermond’s course, even according to the laws of his own country.  But I had ordered Neb to be liberal with my means, and a very respectable entertainment was spread before our eyes, when we reached the cabin.  Sennit was soon hard at work; but, under pretence of looking for some better sugar than had been placed on the table, I got three bottles of brandy privately into Neb’s hands, whispering him to give one to the master’s-mate on deck, and the other two to the crew.  I knew there were too many motives for such a bribe, connected with our treatment, the care of our private property, and other things of that nature, to feel any apprehension that the true object of this liberality would be suspected by those who were to reap its advantages.

Sennit, Marble, and myself, sate quite an hour at table.  The former drank freely of wine; though he declined having anything to do with the brandy.  As he had taken two or three glasses of the rejected liquor in my presence before the two ships parted, I was convinced his present forbearance proceeded from a consciousness of the delicate circumstances in which he was placed, and I became rather more wary in my own movements.  At length the lieutenant said something about the “poor devil on deck,” and Marble was sent up, to look out for the ship, while Diggens came below to eat.  The instant the master’s-mate appeared, I could see the brandy had been doing its work on him, and I was fearful his superior might notice it.  He did not, however, being too well pleased with the Madeira I had set before him, to trouble himself about a few drams, more or less, that might have fallen to the share of his subordinate.

At length this memorable supper, like everything else of earth, came to an end, and all of us went on deck in a body:  leaving Neb and the cook to clear away the fragments.  It was now night, though a soft star-light was diffused over the surface of the rolling water.  The wind had moderated a little, and the darkness promised to pass without any extra labour to the people, several of the studding-sails having been taken in by Diggens’ orders, when he first went below.

When seamen first come on deck at sea, there is usually a pause in the discourse, while each notes the weather, the situation of the ship, and the signs of the hour.  Sennit and myself did this, almost as a matter of course, separating, in order that each might make his observations at leisure.  As for Marble, he gave up the command of the deck to Diggens, walking forward by himself.  Neb and the cook were keeping up the customary clattering with plates, knives, and forks.