"May I bring Bungle in?"
"Certainly, lad," said the first lieutenant, "and meanwhile I'll report your arrival to the Captain."
When Wynn returned the captain was with him. The assistant paymaster and the young marine both crept in with only their pyjamas on.
Then the boy told his story, pausing here and there to permit Bungle to work in a word or two.
Then Kep, during the brief spell of silence that followed, handed the ring to Captain Breezy.
"What is this?"
"That is the chief murderer's ring."
The chief murderer, however, had sailed days ago, probably to join his brother. Indeed, from further evidence brought next day by an old interpreter, there was little doubt left that Abdularram was in hiding somewhere about the line or farther north, with a fleet of northern or fighting dhows, and also that his brother was marching upon the coast with his slaves, if indeed he had not already reached his barracoon. Their object, therefore, was to strike a blow both on shore and at sea that the Arabs would feel the effects of for many and many a day to come.
Fore and aft, on this very account, the officers and bluejackets were the merriest of the merry; swords and cutlasses were being sharpened; guns received an extra polish; revolvers were cleaned and cartridges were served out; while, though they were all busy attending to the duties that devolved upon them, laughing and joking were heard all day long.
A row was coming, and they would be in it, and from the fight they felt certain they would come out victorious.