Captain De Long was silent for fully a minute.
He seemed to be arguing in his own mind the pros and cons of the case.
At last he said:
“That is all I wished to know, Mr. Perry.”
The young sailor bowed, and was disappearing up the companionway when Captain De Long called out:
“Send Mr. Clemmons to me, Mr. Perry.”
“Ay, ay, sir,” and with another salute Bemis Perry departed from the cabin.
He at once went in search of Scott Clemmons, and found him pacing to and fro amidships, looking a little the worse for his dissipation ashore the day before.
“Mr. Clemmons, Captain De Long wishes to see you.”
Scott Clemmons started.