"Oh, don't talk remedies to me. I took medicine three days before I
started on this voyage, and everybody I saw told me something to do to
keep from being sick. I'm wearing a sheet of writing paper across my
chest now."

When supper was over Jack motioned for his friends to follow him. The
three went on deck and walked aft till they were quite alone.

The "Eagle" was plowing along over a deserted sea. The waves were
running heavily, and night was shutting down grimly over the ocean.

"What's the matter with you, Diamond?" asked Browning. "Why have you
dragged us out here? It's cold, and I'd rather go into our stateroom and
take a loaf after eating so heartily. By Jove! if this keeps up, they
won't have provisions enough on this boat to feed me before we get
across."

"I wanted to have a little talk without," said Jack; "and I didn't care
about talking in the stateroom, where I might be overheard."

"What's up, anyway?" demanded Frank, warned by the manner of the
Virginian that Jack fancied he had something of importance to tell
them.

"I've been investigating," said Jack.

"What?"

"Well, I found out that there is something the matter on this boat."