Then again came the sound of voices on deck. The two captains were in conference.
“A big storm,” Jim heard Captain Broome say. “We weathered it well, but the Swedish bark which we had sighted had been for some time in distress, could not stand the strain and had to be abandoned.”
“Then you have all the crew of the lost ship aboard?”
“What could we do but lend a hand?” said Captain Broome in an apologetic tone, as if deploring the necessity for an ordinary humanitarian act.
“How large a crew, and who is their commander?”
“A dozen of the beggars and blessed with appetites that are insatiable. Captain ter Tofte Luhrensen was in command. He was also the owner of the lost vessel.”
“And what do you propose to do with them?”
“Why do you ask?” was Broome’s diplomatic response.
“I just thought you might have in mind the leaving of the crowd on this island.”