Pete took in the situation at a glance. Then he laid his big hand on the young man's shoulder and swung him aside as if he had been turning a swivel.
“What going doing?” he asked.
The young man faltered something. Sorry to intrude—Capt'n Quilliam's trouble.
“What trouble?” said Pete.
“Need I say—the lamented—I mean distressing—in fact, the mysterious disappearance——”
“What disappearance?” said Pete, with an air of amazement.
“Can it be, sir, that you've not yet heard——”
“Heard what? Your tongue's like a turnip-watch in a fob pocket—out with it, man.”
“Your wife, Captain——”
“What? My wife disa—— What? So this is the jeel! My wife mysteriously disappear—— Oh, my gough!”