"Navy."
"What were you?"
"Second lieutenant."
Madden looked at his friend curiously. Here was a queer pass for an English naval officer. This revelation explained a good deal about Smith, his autocratic manner, his many-sided education, his emotion at leaving England. It even explained why he had expected Malone to place him in charge of the dock.
"Is there any hope of getting back in?" asked Leonard sympathetically.
"Instauration! Never knew of such a thing in our navy. If I ever get out of here I'll go in trade somewhere."
"In South America?"
"I had British Honduras in mind, or Canada. I'd like to keep in the Empire."
A noise below interrupted the conversation. The two youths looked down. The deck plan of the tug lay flat and empty save for the inert form of Gaskin. The noise came from inside the cabin and arose to a shouting. It was a drunken ribald sound. A suspicion flashed on Leonard's mind.
"Those pigs below are wasting the stores," he declared.