The appearance of a lieutenant of the Armadale interrupted the demonstrations.
"When you've finished with your jamboree, gentlemen," he observed pleasantly, "the Commodore would like to see the officers of the three captured ships."
"Say!" exclaimed Captain Davis, "can't he give us time to have a hair-cut and shave?"
The lieutenant laughed.
"He won't mind," he replied. "'Sides, you might catch cold, skipper, if you took all that lot off at once."
The conference was of a brief yet important nature. The captains of the three merchantmen were asked where they wished to be taken—whether to Honolulu or to Sydney. Captain Blair and most of the officers of the Donibristle chose Honolulu, whence they could obtain a passage to Esquimalt, and from there to Vancouver. The skipper of the Kittiwake declined both offers, saying that he preferred to sail in his own craft, and Angus and Withers offered to fill vacancies in the Kittiwake's engine-room staff. Finally the Alvarado's Old Man expressed a belief that he, too, could recondition his ship and take her back to 'Frisco.
"Good man!" exclaimed the Commodore. "If I were in your place, by Jove! I'd do the same. We'll be here for another six or seven days, so if you want any assistance my artificers are at your disposal."
"And if—" added Captain Davis to the skipper of the Alvarado. "And if you aren't ready by that time I'll tow you across to Hilo or Honolulu."
When the conference was over the Commodore asked Burgoyne to remain.
"Mr. Burgoyne," he began without any preliminaries, "are you fond of the Merchant Service?"