On reaching the ship he was conducted down to the wardroom, where, to his surprise, three naval captains were seated at a table.
"Please to sit down, Mr. Blagrove," the one in the centre said, "we want to ask you a few questions."
Supposing that he was about to be asked more about Egypt, or perhaps the depth of water in the port of Alexandria, Edgar prepared to answer, and the first questions justified his anticipations, for he was questioned minutely as to the point for which a ship would head to round the dangerous reef extending from the outer point of the western port. Then he was asked as to the depth of water between this and the shore, the guns that could be brought to bear upon it, and the depths at various points in the harbour itself. All these he was able to answer at once. Then he was asked various questions as to harbours in the Turkish and Greek islands, and as he had constantly consulted the charts during his cruise in the Tigress, he was able to reply readily on all these points. The next question surprised him.
"Now, Mr. Blagrove, if caught by a sudden and heavy squall, when under full sail, among these islands, and having but three or four minutes to strip the ship, what orders would you give?"
As he had in his mind every order that Wilkinson had given on the approach of the squall, he was able to repeat them with accuracy.
"You are cutting them rather short, Mr. Blagrove."
"Yes, sir; but the time is very short. When cruising there we were struck by a squall less than three minutes after we had notice of its coming, and everything had to be done at once and with the greatest possible speed. As it was, the men were not out of the rigging when the squall struck us."
"Supposing you had had ten minutes' notice, how would you have proceeded?"
Edgar gave the orders as laid down in the text-book, for after the narrow escape they had had, he and Wilkinson had especially learnt these by heart.
"Very good indeed, Mr. Blagrove."