This was gladly granted, and the interview was but a short one.
"It seems, sir," said Kep, "that treasure will pan out to £2,200,000, and if so----"
"Oh, Kep, my lad," interrupted Breezy, "it will do more than that."
"Well, sir, this money belongs to Adolph and me, does it not?"
"Every penny, Keppel."
Kep then told him of his father's grief and illness from his downfall from Martello Castle to a small cottage by the sea, and how he, Kep, meant to set up his daddy and sister in their former state, and to do all he could to make his life happy.
"Adolphus here will, no doubt," he continued, "know what to do with his. And now, sir, I have only to ask that we may have the pleasure and honour of distributing all but the two millions to the officers and men of the ship."
Breezy grasped Kep by the hand and then Adolph. He was visibly affected.
"Let it be divided, as usual, with prize-money, only in this case your share, sir, must not be less than £50,000; nor any man's less than £1,000."
A public meeting was held next day, on the quarterdeck, all hands being called to hear the gladsome tidings. And I need not say that the cheering was such as is seldom heard on board a navy cruiser or battle-ship. Then the little band struck up; both Kep and Adolph were picked up and carried shoulder high around the deck, even the bayoneted sentries saluting as they passed.