And just then Selwyn, who knew the chief of police was on board, put his head into the admiral's cabin.
"Could I speak to you a moment, Sir Richard?"
And Dicky Dunn went outside.
"I thought as you had this Cartwright with you, sir," said Selwyn, "that I ought to tell you a queer yarn that has just been brought me by one of the quartermasters. It seems that one of the men has a story that you once had a fight with Shanghai Smith and hurt him badly. It was in Australia I believe—in Melbourne."
"Stay a minute," said the admiral; "let me think. Yes, by Jove, I did have a row on Sandridge Pier years ago, and I broke the man up so that he had to go to a hospital. And his name—yes, it was Smith. Thanks, Selwyn, I'll see if this man ever was in Australia."
He went back to Cartwright
"Now as to the Sheeny, admiral," said Cartwright, who was beginning to feel comfortable.
"Never mind the Sheeny, Mr. Cartwright," said his host; "do you know Smith's record? Where did he come from?"
"He came from Melbourne," replied the chief.
And the admiral slapped his leg.