After Phil had politely allowed such time to elapse that the mate might think he was laughing over this yarn, he said:
“By-the-way, Mr. Coombs, when do I go on watch?”
“You?” replied the other. “You don’t have to stand no watch. Hunters never does.”
“Am I a――” began Phil; but his question was forced to remain unasked, for at that moment some subtle sense informed the mate that it was again time to change the schooner’s course, and he bawled out, “Ready about!” In the confusion that followed he disappeared, and Phil stumbled forward, more anxious than ever to meet with Serge, and beg him to throw the light of his superior knowledge on the situation.
He discovered his friend snugly stowed away in a forecastle berth. Here, as half a dozen men constituting the watch below occupied other berths in the extremely narrow quarters allotted to the crew, the lads were obliged to converse in whispers to avoid being overheard, as well as not to disturb those who slept.
“Why haven’t you been to supper, old man?” began Phil.
“I have, long ago,” replied Serge; “but where have you been all this time? I was beginning to worry about you.”
“Been in the cabin eating supper, mostly; but I didn’t see you there.”
“Eating in the cabin!” exclaimed Serge, springing up so carelessly in his excitement that he bumped his head against the bottom of the berth above him. “You don’t mean it! Are you going to bunk there, too?”
“I’m afraid so. You see, I don’t exactly like to ask a favor of Captain Duff, or I’d try for permission to sleep in here with you.”
“Oh, pshaw!” ejaculated Serge. “You don’t mean that. You know you don’t. Why, man, the mere fact that you are billeted in the cabin instead of in the forecastle shows that you must be rated as a hunter.”
“Why must I?” inquired Phil, in a puzzled tone. “And pray what is a hunter?”
“One who hunts, of course. He lives aft, and don’t have to stand watch――”
“Nor do any of the ship’s work,” continued Serge.
“Am I to be allowed to do anything at all except suck my thumbs and maintain my ‘dig,’ like old Kite Robinson?” asked the young hunter.
“Oh! you’ve heard of him, have you? Of course you will be allowed to do something. You will be allowed to shoot, and not only that, but you will be expected to shoot all day, and every day from sunrise to sunset; and mighty hard work you will find it, too, before you get through with it.”