Somewhat diffidently he mentioned the fact to the lieutenant-commander. Maynebrace pooh-poohed the objection.
“You can’t expect that Cartwright will let you carve his suit about,” he remarked. “Besides, all ratings know your rank. You aren’t in a crack light cruiser now, young fellow, but in one of the handmaidens of the fleet. I suppose you’ll soon pass for sub-lieutenant?”
“Another twelvemonth, I expect.”
“Probably. By the bye, I wirelessed the admiral last night, requesting that you may be temporarily borne on the books of Buster. He’ll no doubt reply giving permission. It doesn’t much matter; you’re here, and here you’ll jolly well stop for at least another nine days. I suppose you are absolutely sure that there’s another pirate junk knocking around?”
“I couldn’t be absolutely sure, sir, but it sounded like it. We didn’t catch sight of her, from start to finish.”
“I hope to goodness there is another pirate at large,” confessed Maynebrace. “It will be frightfully disappointing if we’re burning oil fuel for nine days for nothing. But so far, except for your evidence, there’s nothing to prove that recent incidents of piracy in these waters are the work of more than one gang. In addition to the capture and looting of the Ah-Foo, two British steamers were stopped by a junk hoisting signals of distress, and at least three Chinese-owned tramps have been seized and pillaged. Unfortunately, the case of the Ah-Foo is the most recent, so if only one pirate junk is concerned, it looks as if our independent cruise is a wash-out.”
“The junk that captured us was in action, sir.”
“Yes; but who with? It might have been a Chinese government gunboat.”
“She’d be armed with a quick-firer. I’m quite certain there was only an exchange of rifle and machine-gun fire,” countered Raxworthy.
“By Jove! I hope you’re right,” rejoined the lieutenant-commander. “What do you think, Cotterdell?”