For the last hour the motors had been stopped. There was no immediate hurry to reach the rendezvous, and Captain Cain was too prudent a man to use up oil in aimlessly cruising up-Channel. Unless another craft came within sight the Alerte could drift; but the pirate skipper realised the risk of his vessel wallowing in the long swell without carrying way. That would be in itself sufficient to excite the curiosity of any passing shipping.
Presently, after a prolonged examination of the horizon, Captain Cain went below to his cabin, leaving Pengelly in charge of the deck. For certain reasons, the skipper did not desire the presence of his lieutenant.
He touched the bell and, on a man entering to inquire his pleasure, ordered Jones to be brought to him.
The wretched Jasper Chamfer, looking ill and horribly scared, was brusquely shown into Captain Cain's cabin.
"Good-morning," was the captain's greeting, as genial as if he were dealing with Chamfer in his capacity of Admiralty inspector.
"Good-morning," replied Chamfer, almost automatically. He was too bewildered to grasp the significance of his captor's irony.
"Sorry to trouble you," continued Captain Cain, "but there are a few formalities to be observed in the carrying out of our agreement. That twenty thousand: is it in shares?"
"Government Four per Cents., redeemable in 1931," replied Chamfer. "Also Six per Cents. Royal Mail."
"Deposited with whom?"
"My bankers, Trevannion Brothers, Plymouth."