There was a pause.
"I was wondering," said Mr. McEwen softly, "whether yon swab who put that nine-inch spanner in my cylinder micht be amang the pairty."
Tony shook his head. "I'm afraid not," he replied regretfully.
There was a sudden exclamation of interest from Bugg.
"Why, look, sir! See 'im, sir? It's the cross-eyed bloke. The one I knocked aht in Long Acre."
He pointed excitedly towards the approaching launch, above which the sombre scowl of Colonel Saltero was now plainly visible to the naked eye.
"You're quite right, Bugg," said Tony. "It's the same gentleman, but he is coming to see me this time in a nice friendly spirit, so perhaps you had better keep out of the way. He mightn't like to be reminded of that push in the face."
With his usual ready obedience Bugg faded from the scene, and as he did so the voice of Captain Simmons came curtly and incisively from the bridge.
"Stand by with the fender, and look out for our paint."
A couple of the crew, under the direction of the second officer, hurried to fulfil the order, while two others climbed over the rail, ready to drop down and assist in the operation.