70 TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 



non so far as getting anything to eat was concerned. 

 At last Tom being nowhere to be seen I ventured 

 into the fo'castle to investigate. The cabin boy was 

 busily cutting bacon, running the risk of losing his 

 head, for he was attacking half the side of an out- 

 sized pig, and he cut towards himself, the knife being 

 just level with his neck. The cook was helpless in a 

 bunk, assuring any one who cared to listen of his 

 complete confidence in the fact that there would be 

 glory for him, for him. 



There was nothing like enough coal in the stove to 

 cook anything upon, and so I went to find some. The 

 ' ' open sesame ' ' to the most used coal-locker was set 

 in the flooring of the passage leading to the saloon. 

 Most unfortunately I forgot, in my hurry, to replace 

 the lid. The next instant such a crash and such 

 language ! I rushed to see whatever had happened, 

 and there, half in and half out of the coal-hole, was 

 the Leader of the expedition. He had not noticed the 

 absence of the top board, and I do think it was silly 

 of him. Somehow or other I got him back into the 

 saloon, and he was very hurt and very huffy. I 

 should have offered to get him some brandy if I 

 hadn't known that the cook had made away with all 

 there was available. It was no use precipitating a 

 rumpus. 



The Leader sat ruefully rubbing his knee, and I 

 explained about the breakfast and everything, and 

 tried not to laugh, and just then remembered to 

 replace the board over the coal-locker before any one 

 else fell down it. Then such a groan from the 



