"Tha's all right. Where else?"
"Look there, sir!" Captain Crang wagged a forefinger at the crowd in the scuppers. "I want your explanation of that!"
Mr. Wapshott brought his gaze to bear on the point indicated; but not until he had scanned successively the deck gratings, the rise of the forecastle and the main shrouds.
"Re-markable," he answered slowly. "Mos' remarkable. One funniest things ever saw in my life. Wha's yours?"
"My what, sir?"
"Eggs. Eggs-planation. Mus' ask you, sir, be so good hear me out."
"Good Lord!" With a sudden look of horror Captain Crang let go his hold of the poop-ladder and staggered back against the bulwarks. "You don't mean—you're not telling me—that I brought that menagerie aboard last night!" His gaze wandered helplessly from the first officer to the crew forward.
"Now then, Bill, steady does it," whispered Mr. Jope, and saluted again. "You'll excuse me, sir, but Mr. Wapshott was below last night when we brought you aboard from dinin' with his R'yal Highness."
"I remember nothing," groaned Captain Crang. "I never do remember when—and before the Duke too!"
Mr. Jope coughed. "His R'yal Highness, sir—if you'll let me say so—was a bit like what you might call everyone else last night. He shook hands very affectionate, sir, at parting, an' hoped to have your company again before long."