Tony snapped his glasses together and turned to the skipper.
"I think I had better go down on the deck, and prepare to make pretty speeches," he said. "I suppose they will be able to come alongside all right."
Captain Simmons eyed his advancing visitors with an air of mistrustful calculation.
"I wouldn't go as far as that," he observed grimly, "but I dare say they'll manage it somehow or other."
"Never mind," said Tony, "paint's cheap."
He descended in leisurely fashion to the deck, and walked across to the starboard side, where the members of the crew had collected together awaiting the skipper's orders.
A little apart from the others, and leaning over the rail, stood Mr. McEwen and "Tiger" Bugg. For some obscure reason these two had struck up an immediate and firm friendship, with the result that Bugg had spent practically the entire trip in the breezy atmosphere of the engine-room.
Tony strolled up and joined them.
"Guid-morning to ye, Sir Antony," observed the chief engineer removing his pipe.
"Good-morning, Mr. McEwen," said Tony. "Having a look at the visitors?"