"Ay, ay, sir."
The necessary change was made, and the two steamers approached each other.
When they got within hailing distance a voice shouted:
"Ship ahoy!"
"Umbria," was the reply.
"Where from, and how long out?"
"New York, six hours."
"What in thunder," was the next question, "do you want to fool us by signaling that you were in distress and out of provisions?"
"We sent up the ordinary signals, to make out who you were."
"Some mistake. Do you want anything?"