"You have done well, Mr. Somers," said Captain Cascabel. "Beat to quarters, Mr. Hackleford."
When the crew were at quarters, Mr. Hackleford explained to them what had occurred, and fully justified the course of the fourth lieutenant; whereupon an earnest and enthusiastic cheer rang through the ship.
"Are you satisfied, Tom?" asked Somers of the boatswain.
"Bless ye! I was satisfied before, Mr. Somers. There is only one dark thing in the whole of it."
"What's that, Tom?"
"If Captain Cascabel and Mr. Hackleford both knew that Mr. Pillgrim was a traitor, why did they send him out to capture that steamer? That's what I can't see through."
"Can't you? Well, if they had not sent him, we should not have captured the Ben Nevis."
"I don't see why."
"Don't you? Well, you are not as sharp as you are sometimes."
"I know I'm dull, Mr. Somers, but splinter my figger head if I can see through it."