At the opening where the gangway had been several men, including the excited passenger, were gathered. The rail had been drawn across the space, and the ship was already a dozen feet or so from the wharf. Tom and Archer paused in the background, wisely inconspicuous.
"Certainly you can't go ashore—how are you going to get ashore—jump?" asked an officer good-humoredly.
"You can have the gangway put up," insisted the man.
"You're talking nonsense," said the officer. "Can't you see we're out of reach and moving?"
"You'd only have to back her in a yard or two," said the man excitedly.
"What, the ship?" asked the officer, in good-natured surprise; and several other men laughed.
"There's no use my starting without my aparatus!" said the passenger, his anger mounting. "It will be here to-morrow morning; it is promised! I was informed the ship would not sail before to-morrow night. This is an outrage——"
"I'm sorry, sir," said the officer.
"There's no use my going without my belongings," the man persisted angrily. "I demand to be put ashore."
"That's impossible, sir."