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 “But dinner or breakfast, I shall be glad to see the steward, whichever he may bring.”

“Both,” said Conseil.

“Just so,” replied Ned. “We are entitled to two meals, and, for my part, I could do justice to both.”

“Listen, Ned,” said I. “It is very evident that these people do not intend to starve us, else the dinner yesterday would have had no meaning.”

“Unless they wanted to fatten us up a bit.”

“I must protest against that,” said I. “We have not fallen among cannibals.”

“Once is not a custom,” replied the Canadian seriously; “who can tell whether these people have not been deprived of fresh meat for some time? and, in that case, three such individuals as you, Monsieur, your servant, and I—”

“Banish such thoughts, Land,” I said, “and above all things do not go out of your way to abuse our hosts—that will only make matters worse.”

“In any case,” said Ned, “I am as hungry as a thousand devils; dinner or breakfast, the meal is not here.”

“We must conform to the regulations of the ship,” I replied. “Possibly our appetites are in advance of the galley clock.”

“And I suppose that is set correctly?” said Conseil calmly.

“That is so like you, friend Conseil,” replied the impetuous Canadian. “You don’t ever trouble yourself much, you are always calm. You are the kind of fellow to say grace before your benedicite, and die of hunger rather than complain.”