"I should like much to hear——" I began.
"I won't bother you with much," said the Smith. "You know I took your boat. I suppose that young beggar who threw stones at me told you. But it was a fair prize—she was floating out at sea."
"Yes, we dragged it out of him somehow. He said you were going to join a British vessel somewhere down the——"
"Yes, that's true, too. Didn't you find the note in the cork of the bottle?"
"Yes, we found that," said I.
"I thought you would, from the Captain's nose."
"That's only sunburn," said I. "He's a very——"
"Excuse me, but we had better start. I can tell you as we walk along."
"Shan't we wait for the Captain?" said I.
"There's no chance of his finding us. See there!" He pointed to the great ball of red just showing its upper limb over the gray streak at the edge of the world.