However, this was clearly no time to experiment and I was hungry enough to forget all else in the appetizing fragrance of the meal waiting.

I fell to eagerly, convinced there was a good cook on board, and enjoying every morsel.

This did not look as though I was destined to suffer, and merely being confined in these narrow quarters for a few hours was no great hardship.
Probably the girl was receiving very similar treatment, and, as soon as the _Sea Gull_ made whatever port was aimed at, we would both be put ashore, and left to proceed as we thought best.

Indeed, sitting there alone, under the inspiration of choice food, well cooked, I became quite cheerful, dismissing altogether from my mind any apprehension that this attack upon us had any connection with the inheritance of Philip Henley.

These people were lawless enough, without doubt--the murders already committed were evidence of that--but all they desired so far as we were personally concerned, was to get us safely out of the way, where we could no longer interfere with their plans.