“It’s a bad morning, gentlemen,” said the captain, frowning, “and I don’t see how we are to start.”
“What!” said Sir Humphrey, frowning and speaking angrily.
“Ah, I thought you’d take it that way, sir,” said the skipper, scowling; “but you’re wrong. I’m not going back on what I said.”
“Then what does this mean?”
“It means, sir, that I’ve lost Jem Lynton, my second mate.”
“Lost him?” said Brace quickly. “Why, he stopped ashore to spend the evening with somebody.”
“That’s right, squire.”
“You mean he hasn’t come back,” said Brace contemptuously.
“No, I don’t, sir,” said the captain; “because he did come back.”
“But you said you had lost him,” cried Brace.