ago now." He stood smiling down at Pills from his lean
height.

The Mess chortled at the Surgeon's discomfiture. Thorogood turned to the
Commander who had just then entered. "This is Commander Hornby," he
said, and introduced the two men. "There's Mouldy--you remember him?"
Mouldy Jakes came over and shook hands gravely. "And this is the rest of
the Mess." He included the remainder with a wave of his hand, and Sir
William acknowledged the informal general introduction with the grave,
smiling self-possession of the perfectly bred Englishman.

"Now," said his nephew, "what about a cocktail, Uncle Bill?"

"Yes," said Mouldy Jakes, sharing with his friend the responsibility of
entertaining this eminent guest. "We've got rather a good brand--fizzy
ones. Do you a power of good, sir!"

Sir William laughed. "Thank you," he said, "but fizzy cocktails and I
came to the parting of the ways more years ago than I care to remember.
Perhaps I may be allowed to join you in a glass of sherry....?"

"Rather," said his host, and gave the order. "Well, Uncle Bill," he
said, "what brings you up to Ultima Thule and on board the Flagship?"

The Scientist helped himself to a biscuit from the tray on a little table
near the door. "I'm staying with--with an old friend for a few days, for
a change of air," he said. He took the proffered glass of sherry and
sipped it appreciatively. "May I congratulate you on your excellent
sherry?"

"It's not bad," said Mouldy Jakes. "I'm the wine caterer," he added
modestly.

At this juncture dinner was announced and they passed through into the
long Wardroom.

Shaded electric lights hung down above the table that traversed the
length of the Mess. A number of ornamental pieces of silver and trophies
adorned the centre of the table and winked and glistened against the dark
mahogany. Slips of white napery ran down on either side, on which the
glasses, silver and cutlery lay. They took their places, the
presidential hammer tapped, and the Chaplain, rising, offered brief
thanks. Immediately after a buzz of conversation broke out generally.

Sir William, on the right of the President, indicated the glittering
trophies. "I see you keep your plate on board," he said, smiling, "even
in war."

The Commander laughed. "Well," he said, "all these things we actually
won ourselves. There's a lot more stuff--the things that belong to the
ship itself, one commission as much as another, and tho