Joe, while we're as hungry as bears," said a rough, masculine voice which
seemed to come from a spot close in Captain Raymond's rear.

Before the sentence was half finished every other voice was hushed and all
eyes were turned in the direction from which the sound seemed to come.
Everyone was startled for an instant, but by the time the sentence was
finished the captain looked perfectly calm and cool.

"Who are you? and how did you come aboard the vessel?" he asked.

"In the boat, sir; same as the rest o'e company," was the reply in the
same voice.

"Without waiting for an invitation, eh?"

"Humph! might 'a' missed it if we'd waited. Say, capting, are you mean
enough to let us fellows go hungry when you have a vessel full o' good
things for eatin'? To say nothing of a pocket full o' tin?"

"If any would not work, neither should he eat," quoted the captain. "What
work have you two been about to-day?"

"Same as yerself, sir; lookin' at the exhibits in this here big World's
Fair."

"Very well; you may go and ask the steward for some supper."

A sound of retreating footsteps followed, and those of the guests who were
not in the secret looked about here and there in blank astonishment.