“Thank you, sir!”
“You’ll be in time to join your chum Whitwell for Boxing Day,” continued the Bloke, with a twinkle in his eye. “Then you can apologize to his people for having to refuse their offer to spend Christmas Day at Kindersley Manor, and tell them from me that it was the fault of that old buffer of a commander!”
“Thank you, sir,” said Kenneth again, and as he hurried to the gun-room to enjoy a good night’s rest before going on leave, he said to himself:
“My luck’s in, this time, by Jove! Dashed if the old buffer of a commander isn’t a thundering good sort after all!”
PART II
THE PIRATE JUNK
I
“Send Midshipman Raxworthy, sir!” suggested the commander hopefully.
“Why should I send my senior midshipman?’ countered the captain plaintively, almost petulantly.
“It would give him a chance to let loose some of his high spirits,” replied the Bloke, who was only too glad of a possible opportunity to free himself from his thorn in the flesh, in the person of Mr. Midshipman Raxworthy.