“Yes, sir.”
“There’s one, then,” said the captain, pointing to where it could be plainly seen.
“Yes, sir.”
“Then where’s the other, sir?”
“Really, sir,” replied the first lieutenant, glancing round and seeing that the two middies were hearing every word and striving hard to keep their faces straight in spite of an intense desire to laugh—“Really, sir, I cannot point out the exact spot, but I suppose that it is where the lugger and the second cutter came out.”
“You suppose that, sir, do you—suppose it!” roared the captain, thumping the rail with his open hand. “Well, that’s what Mr Munday supposes; but where is it, sir—where is it?”
“I must ask Mr Munday, sir, for I suppose he examined that part of the coast when he came out himself.”
“Suppose—suppose—suppose!” cried the captain. “I’m sick of all this supposition. Mr Munday knows nothing whatever about it. The lugger sailed out, and after a bit the second cutter sailed out and continued the pursuit—for I suppose it was a pursuit?”
“Yes, sir, of course.”
“Don’t say of course, Mr Anderson. I tell you it was all like a pantomime trick. He has thoroughly examined the coast there, and he can find no second mouth.”