"Why not toss for it?" he asked. "Sudden death. Odd man stays behind."
Three coins spun in the air and were deftly caught by their respective owners.
"Heads!" announced Swayne.
"Same here!" shouted Fontayne. "We're all right, Swayne. We're in the same galley. Now then Paddy."
Lugubriously O'Loghlin began to uncover his coin. Then his features expanded into a broad grin as he, too, disclosed the King's effigy.
The next trial resulted in Swayne having a head and Fontayne a tail. That meant that one of the two was bound to be out.
"Get a move on, O'Loghlin," yelled Fontayne.
Paddy was in no hurry. He rather enjoyed prolonging the agony in view of his chum's cheerful announcement in the first round. It was a head.
"You're ship-keeper, old son," remarked Swayne to the now downcast Fontayne.
"I say, let's go back and interview the secretary-bird," suggested Burgoyne.