"Then it must be true," said Braby. "They only puts 'Esk' on gents' letters."
And Williams, the steward, was observed coming for'ard scratching his head.
"Where the deuce am I?" asked Williams, "and wot's the game? I'm sent by the captain to say, 'Will Mr. Potts step into the cabin?'"
They all looked at Geordie.
"Mr. Potts? Why, that's you, Geordie."
"I s'pose it must be," said the owner. "Must I go, mates?"
"Of course," cried Braby.
But Geordie fidgeted.
"I could go in if we were painting of her cabin," he murmured; "but to talk with the skipper——"
That evidently disgruntled him.