When I awoke the sun was shining through the glass of my porthole, and glancing forth I caught the dazzle of the water.  The vessel was motionless, apparently riding at anchor, the sea barely rippled by a gentle breeze.  Refreshed by sleep and more eager than ever to be in action, I dressed hurriedly, and stepped forth into the cabin.  The breakfast table was set for one, and the black steward was lolling lazily in a chair.  At sight of me he got to his feet.

“Ah suah thought you was n’t nebber goin’ ter wake up, sah,” he said genially, showing his teeth.  “Ah bin waitin’ fer yer mor’n two hours, Ah reckon.”

“For me!  Have the others eaten then?”

“Mostly, sah, mostly.  De Captain he nebber eat no breakfast; he say et ain’t good fer his libber—­yaw; yaw!—­but de mates dey both bin down.”

“What time is it?”

“Most ten, sah.”

“I did sleep, that ’s a fact, Louis.  However, I ’ll try and do full justice to anything you got,” and I seated myself at the table.  “Has Mrs. Henley breakfasted yet?”

“Who, sah?”

“The lady you have on board.”

He scratched the wool on his head vigorously, glancing behind the mast as though uncertain what he had best answer.

“Ah suah nebber know’d dat wus her name, sah; no sah, Ah nebber done suspected it.  Yes, sah, she had her breakfast, but, Ah reckon she did n’t eat much.”

“You served her here at the table?”

The negro, apparently anxious to escape from the topic, shook his head.

“No, sah; in her room, sah,” his voice low.  “De Captain, he unlock de doah, an’ then lock it agin.  He say she done gone crazy, but Lor’ she don’t look dat-a-way to me.  You like sugah in your coffee, sah?”

In spite of the seeming geniality of the steward, and his eagerness now to question me, I realized that he was thoroughly dominated by personal fear of the man aft.  The less I questioned him the better, probably, as there was a strong possibility that he would be interviewed later relative to our conversation.  Henley was only testing me, and would use the darky, if he could, to learn more of my plans.  So, although, a number of questions trembled on my lips, I left them unasked, and finished my meal in silence.  Louis hovered around, dropping a sly hint now and then, which only served to increase my suspicion that he might have received instructions to draw me out.  If so, the experiment was a failure, and, after a light meal, I lit a pipe, and, ignoring him completely, strolled out on deck.  There was evidently no hope that the woman would be released at present, and I could formulate no plan of communicating with her, but I was no less anxious to view our surroundings.