“Hi, there! Bring her round to the quarter-boat davits; she’s to come aboard.”
“That’s the dinghy,” said Skelton. “I told them to bring her aboard. I’ll send you back in the pinnace.”
Again came the voice.
“Hi, there! Are you deaf? Bring her round to the quarter-boat davits; she’s to come aboard.”
Then Jude’s fresh young voice:
“Gar’n! She’s ours; old Popplecock gave her to Satan. Whacha talking about?”
“Very well,” came the other’s. “You wait till Sir William comes on deck.”
Skelton with a grim smile turned to the door. He pointed to the clock on the bulkhead.
“I’m going on deck,” said he. “See that clock—promise me to stick here for two minutes by it and think right over the matter for the last time. Don’t let anything I have said weigh with you.”
He went on deck and, keeping clear of the rail, entered into conversation with the first officer.