Ben had been hanging about outside the door, and at the order he came rolling into the bedroom. He stopped at the foot of the bed and raised his hand in salute.
"Howdy-do, cap'n? Bad news, cap'n. In dock for repairs, I hears."
The captain nodded, still retaining his smile.
"Leakin' bad, cap'n?" queried Ben.
"Oh no," said the captain, and repeated the information he had given Dare concerning the extent of his injuries.
"It might be worse," said Ben, and added truculently, "I'd like to have a go at them fellers."
"And I too!" put in Dare, indignant at the treatment to which his father had been subjected. "How did it happen?"
"That's a long story," said the captain, "but I know you won't go to bed till you hear it, so make yourselves comfortable. Ben, sit down and take it easy while Martha makes you both something hot."
They obeyed, and Captain Stanley wrinkled his forehead in the effort of concentration as he prepared to accede to their wishes.
"In the first place, this is a much more difficult business than I expected," he began.