"But what?"
"I know a fellow living out in Rioguay, sir. An old shipmate of mine. He went on the beach from the Baffin."
"Name?"
"Peter Corbold, sir."
"H'm; name's familiar. Do you ever hear from him?"
"I had one letter, sir. I answered it—but I haven't heard since."
"What's he doing out there?"
"Mining engineering, I think, sir. He mentioned an uncle in the same profession who had been in Rioguay for some time."
The Commander started on another tack.
"The Admiralty have issued orders for the Cynesephon to be brought forward for commissioning," he announced.