Ryder came on board the Battle-Axe as soon as the latest news was signalled to him. Mrs. Ryder declined to go, but she gave him a timely piece of advice.
'Don't let him off the bet, Will, or I'll never forgive you.'
'I won't do that,' said her husband hastily, as if he hadn't been thinking of doing it.
'And if he asks for a man or two, you know we're short-handed already?'
'Tell me something I don't know,' said Ryder a trifle crossly. Even his sweet temper suffered in 115° in the shade.
'I dare say I could,' said his wife when he was in his boat. 'I dare say I could.'
Watchett received his cousin with an air of gloom that would have struck a damp on anything anywhere but the Equator.
'This is a terrible business,' he said. 'I never 'eard of anything like it. Every night a man, and last night two!'
Ryder was naturally very much cut up about it, and said so.
'Will you have some more marmalade?' he asked anxiously.