“Why, certainly not. Hunt a cargo for her, Skinner. We might just as well let the man Peasley know that though he's gone he's not forgotten. Use the cable freely and see if you can't pick up something for the return trip that will make those two firebrands sick at the stomach.”
A month later Mr. Skinner stepped into Cappy's sanctum.
“Well,” he announced. “I've got a return cargo for the Retriever.”
“What have you got?” Cappy demanded anxiously; and Mr. Skinner told him.
“No?” said Cappy incredulously.
“Yes!” Mr. Skinner assured him.
Cappy's laughter testified to his hearty approval.
“Skinner, my dear boy,” he cried. “I don't know what I'd do without you.”
And then he laid his wicked old head on his desk and laughed until he wept. Indeed, Mr. Skinner so far forgot his code as to laugh with him.
“We'll stink those two vagabonds—those maritime outlaws—out of the ship,” he declared.