“Great Scott, Tom!  You don’t think they’ll do that, do you?”

“No telling, but if they do, Ned, I’ve got some things in that box that will make them wish they hadn’t.  It’s got—­” and Tom leaned forward and whispered, as though he feared even the walls would hear.

“Good!” cried his chum!  “That’s the stuff!  No wonder you thought the ship might be damaged if the fire got to that!”

It seemed that the slight fire was about all the excitement destined to take place aboard the Calaban, for, after the blaze was so effectually quenched, the ship slipped along through the calm seas, and it was actually an effort to kill time on the part of the passengers.  As they progressed further south the weather became more and more warm, until, as they approached the equator, every one put on the lightest garments obtainable.

“Crossing the line,” was the signal for the usual “stunts” among the sailors.  “Neptune” came aboard, with his usual sea-green whiskers made from long rope ends, and with his trident much in evidence; and there was plenty of horseplay which the passengers very much enjoyed.

Then, as the tropical region was left behind, the weather became more bearable.  There were one or two storms, but they were of no consequence and the steamer weathered them easily.

Torn and his friends had several talks with the “Reverend Josiah Blinderpool,” as the pretended clergyman still called himself.  But he did not obtrude his company on them, and though he asked many questions as to where Tom and his party were going, the young inventor, with his usual caution in talking to strangers, rather evaded them.

“Hang it all!  He’s as close-mouthed as a clam,” complained “Mr. Blinderpool” to himself one day, after an attempt to worm something from Tom, “I’ll just have to stick close to him and his chum to get a line on where they’re heading for.  And I must find out, or Waydell will think I’m throwing the game.”

As for Tom and the others, they gave the seeming clergyman little thought—­that is until one day when something happened.  Ned had been down in the engine room, having had permission to inspect the wonderful machinery, and, on his way back he passed the smoking cabin.  He was rather surprised to see Mr. Blinderpool in there, puffing on a big black cigar, and with him were some men whom Ned recognized as personages who had vainly endeavored to get a number of passengers into a card game with them.  And, unless Ned’s eyes deceived him, the seeming clergyman was about to indulge in a game himself.

“That’s mighty queer,” mused Ned.  “Guess I’ll tell Tom about this.  I never saw a minister play cards in public before, and this Mr. Blinderpool has been trying to get thick with Tom, of late.  Maybe he’s a gambler in disguise.”

Filled with this thought Ned hastened off to warn his chum.

CHAPTER IX