Pant and Johnny crept into a dark corner beneath the cliff and facing a blazing fire.
“Pretty rough,” was Johnny’s only comment.
Soon he became conscious of the presence of a little man who appeared to stand aloof from the others. He was a clean, decent appearing fellow.
“Pretty close one,” Johnny said, by way of starting conversation.
The little man turned and gave him a sharp look.
“You from that airplane?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll say it was close.” The man lowered his voice. “Wouldn’t ’ave ’appened but they was quarrelin’ over ’ow they’d divide the plunder, them officers was.”
“The plunder?” said Johnny.
“Yes, didn’t you know?” the sailor whispered. “That wreck don’t belong to them. It belonged to a company in China. The captain of ’er fergot to set a line to ’er and attach it to the shore, as is the law of the sea, so she’s fair salvage to those ’as gets to ’er first—just plunder, I’d call it.”