"You have reason not to like Shanghai Smith?" said Peter.
"That's so," nodded Sant.
"Mr. Dunn does not like him either. Could you make any use of him on board the Harvester?"
"I could," said Sant, grinning; "he'd be a useful man."
"If you imagined you missed a man to-morrow morning just as you were getting up your anchor, and some one hailed you and said they had picked one up, you would take him aboard?"
"Wet or dry," said Sant.
"I'll undertake he shall be wet," said the admiral. "Eh?" And he turned to Selwyn.
"Yes, sir," replied the lieutenant, "that could be arranged."
"Very well, Mr. Sant," said the admiral.
"And it's understood, of course," said Peter, "that you gentlemen never saw each other and don't know each other when you meet, it being a matter of mutual obligation."