"If you can tell me what the meaning of this is, I should be obliged," he said.
"Well," said Fleming reflectively, "there are maybe two or three. For one thing, I'm thinking it's a hint that the boys ashore are standing by you. There's a note they sent off in your room."
Jimmy told the seaman to bring it, and, while the latter turned the light upon the strip of paper, read: "Hasn't a dollar on him, and belongs to a man called Merril, who's on your trail. We recommend a course of shoveling coal. All you have to do is to play a straight game with the boys, and they'll stand behind you all the time."
Then he turned to Fleming. "I fancy you could give me an explanation, and I'd like to have it."
Fleming told him as much as it appeared desirable that he should know, and Jimmy smiled grimly.
"Wake him up," he said. "There's a bucket yonder."
The seaman made a vigorous use of it, and Barbison raised himself on one elbow, drenched and spluttering.
"Throw any more water, and I'll kill somebody! I'm dangerous when I'm mad," he said.
"Get up!" said Jimmy sharply. "What are you doing here?"
Barbison, who endeavored unsuccessfully to get up, did not seem to know, and apparently abandoned the attempt to think it out. His scattered senses, however, came back to him after the application of more cold water.