"I know how to check a cargo," replied Nat quietly.
"I say you don't! There are ten boxes missing, and you've got to find them, that's all there is about it!"
"Everything down on my list came aboard," insisted Nat.
"Well, those ten boxes didn't, and I know it. You made a mistake, that's what you did, or else you let the boxes fall overboard, and you're afraid to admit it."
"No boxes fell overboard when I was checking up, Mr. Bumstead."
"Well, where are those ten missing ones then?"
"Of course you don't. And no one else does. You made a mistake, that's all, and it's going to be a bad one. It puts me to a lot of work. I'll have to check over all my lists to make up for your blunder."
"I say you did, and I'm going to report you to Captain Marshall. I'm not going to work with a greenhorn, who don't know enough to check up a simple list. I'll report you, that's what I'll do, and we'll see how long you'll have a berth on this ship!"
Angrily muttering to himself, the mate started for the captain's cabin, while poor Nat, much distressed over the trouble into which he had gotten, stood dejectedly in the purser's office.
"Don't let him worry you," said Mr. Dunn consolingly. "He's a surly fellow, and he's always interfering in my department."
"But the captain may discharge me," replied Nat. "Still, I am sure those boxes came aboard. I counted them carefully and I don't believe I would be ten out of the way."
"Of course not. Probably the mate stowed them in some other place and he's forgotten all about it. They'll turn up."
"I hope so, for I would not like to make a mistake the first day out."
At that moment a deckhand came up to where Nat stood talking to the purser.
"Captain wants to see you," he said to the boy.
"Don't get excited now," advised Mr. Dunn. "Here, take our checking list with you and tell the captain exactly how it happened. If you are sure the boxes came aboard say so--and stick to it."
"I will," answered Nat, and, with rather an uneasy feeling, he went aft to where the captain's cabin was located.
He found the mate there, looking quite excited, while Captain Marshall was far from calm. Evidently there had been high words between the men.
"What is this, Nat?" asked the captain. "The mate says he is short ten boxes. You have them on your list as coming aboard, but they are not to be found. You know that will make trouble, to have anything wrong with the cargo."