The two captains were deeply impressed. For some moments after Matt had finished they sat speechless in their chairs; then, as one man they arose. Together they bowed to Matt.
"Ay de mi," breathed Captain Sandoval, "did you ever hear of anything so wonderful?"
"Mos' r-r-remarkable!" exclaimed Captain Pons.
Then they bent to each other. After that Captain Sandoval sat down, but Captain Pons stepped over to Matt and embraced him; then, before Matt could defend himself, Captain Pons kissed him on the cheek.
"Mon ami!" said he; "my friend, I mak' ze apologee. I ask zat you forgeeve ze talk about you as ze mos' contemptible. It is I, me, zat is mos' contemptible——"
"No, no, my captain," protested Captain Sandoval, putting up his hand, "you shall not so greatly injure yourself."
"I r-r-repeat," thundered Captain Pons, thumping his chest fiercely, "I made ze mistake, and I, myself, am mos' contemptible."
Captain Sandoval sighed and looked depressed.
"Zis brav' young man," proceeded Captain Pons, "save ze Pom for me. I sank heem, as one gentleman sank anozzer. Zere, ze debt is cancel. All zat remain is for me to hol' him in mos' tender memory."
"The six Japanese are on the island, Captain Sandoval," said Matt, who was beginning to get a little bit tired of Pons and his mushy nonsense. "Will you send a party ashore to capture them?"