d, respectfully.

"No," snapped the skipper. "Come down here--quick! Don't stand up there
attracting attention. Do you want the whole town round you? Come down!"

"I'm all right where I am," said Bill, backing hastily as the skipper,
putting a foot on the ladder, thrust a black and furious face close to
his.

"Clear out, then," hissed the skipper. "Go and send the mate to me.
Don't hurry. And if anybody noticed me come aboard and should ask you
who I am, say I'm a pal of yours."

The seaman, marvelling greatly, withdrew, and the skipper, throwing
himself on a locker, wiped a bit of grit out of his eye and sat down to
wait for the mate. He was so long in coming that he waxed impatient, and
ascending a step of the ladder again peeped on to the deck. The first
object that met his gaze was the figure of the mate leaning against the
side of the ship with a wary eye on the scuttle.

"Come here," said the skipper.

"Anything wrong?" inquired the mate, retreating a couple of paces in
disorder.

"Come--here!" repeated the skipper.

The mate advanced slowly, and in response to an imperative command from
the skipper slowly descended and stood regarding him nervously.

"Yes; you may look," said the skipper, with sudden ferocity. "This is
all your doing. Where are you going?"

He caught the mate by the coat as he was making for the ladder, and
hauled him back again.

"You'll go when I've finished with you," he said, grimly. "Now, what do
you mean by it? Eh? What do you mean by it?"

"That's all right," said the mate, in a soothing voice. "Don't get
excited."

"Look at me!" said the skipper. "All through your interfering. How dare
you go making inquiries about me?"

"Me?" said the mate, backing as far as possible. "Inquiries?"

"What's it got to do with you if I stay out all night?" pursued the
skipper.

"Nothing," said the other, feebly.

"What did you go to the police about me for, then?" demanded the skipper.

"Me?" said the mate, in the shrill accents of astonishment. "Me?
I didn't go to no police about you. Why should I?"

"Do you mean to say you didn't report my absence last night to the
police?" said the skipper, sternly.

"Cert'nly not," said the mate, plucking up courage. "Why should I? If
you like to take a night off it's nothing to do with me. I 'ope I know
my duty better. I don't know what you're talking about."

"And the police haven't been watching the ship and inquiri