"What report have you from the engine-room, Mr. Angus?" he inquired loudly and pointedly.
Mr. Angus, suddenly recognising his cue, and realising almost with tears that he had been imperilling the success of the entire piece by unseemly "gagging," pulled himself together, returned to his text, and announced that the ship was badly down by the head and the stokehold awash.
"There's nothing else for it," yelled the captain resignedly, "but to leave her. Clear away the boats, Mr. Gates!"
Having thus established a good working explanation of the disaster, and incidentally enlisted the entire audience—those members of it, that is, who were not already doing service in the claque—as unbiassed witnesses for the defence in case the insurance company turned nasty, the intrepid commander descended from the bridge to his cabin, to collect a few necessaries pending the abandonment of his beloved vessel.
Hughie and Allerton surveyed each other.
"Which boat are you going in?" inquired Allerton.
"None," said Hughie.
"Going to stay on board?"
Hughie nodded.
"But she'll sink under our feet."