The Captain said nothing, but he held up the valise, while Pete did the same with the trousers of the blue suit.
"Where'd you get 'em?" gasped the mate.
"Trolled for 'em," responded Kroom; but he added a pretty full explanation.
A very tall, gaunt old man was now leaning over the rail near the mate, and he did not interrupt, but when the Captain finished his account he took his hat off and held it out.
"Kroom," he said, "you can beat me spinning yarns. That stuff was on deck, and they pitched it overboard to get it away. I bought that tackle in London. Found the clothes below in my cabin, and rolled the tackle up in 'em. Don't know why. It was all stolen day before yesterday. My other luggage went in a tug this morning. Are you and the young chaps coming aboard?"
"Want to, boys?" asked Kroom. "There isn't anything worth seeing."
"Guess not," said Pete. "I'll hand him up the valise and things."
"I'd rather go home," said Sam.
"No, you needn't hand it up," said Captain Pickering. "I'm coming ashore with you. I won't be landed in a tug-boat if I can help it. I'd a'most rather swim."