The men brought swabs aft, and had cleaned the deck and the ladder down to the cabin door, when Mr Vanslyperken came on board.
"Has that woman been here?" inquired Mr Vanslyperken, as he came on deck.
"Yes," replied Dick Short.
"Did not I give positive orders that she should not?" cried Vanslyperken.
"No," replied Dick Short.
"Then I do now," continued the lieutenant.
"Too late," observed Short, shrugging up his shoulders, and walking forward.
"Too late! what does he mean?" said Vanslyperken, turning to Coble.
"I knows nothing about it, sir," replied Coble. "She came for some of her husband's things that were left on board."
Vanslyperken turned round to look for the corporal for explanation.