t of circumspect dancing motion to the rail of the
poop, laid two shaking hands upon it, heaved a long sigh, and nodded
affably.

"_Tha's_ all right. Where else?"

"Look there, sir!" Captain Crang wagged a forefinger at the crowd in
the scuppers. "I want your explanation of _that!_"

Mr. Wapshott brought his gaze to bear on the point indicated; but not
until he had scanned successively the deck gratings, the rise of the
forecastle and the main shrouds.

"Re-markable," he answered slowly. "Mos' remarkable. One funniest
things ever saw in my life. Wha's yours?"

"My what, sir?"

"Eggs. Eggs-planation. Mus' ask you, sir, be so good hear me out."

"Good Lord!" With a sudden look of horror Captain Crang let go his
hold of the poop-ladder and staggered back against the bulwarks.
"You don't mean--you're not telling me--that _I_ brought that
menagerie aboard last night!" His gaze wandered helplessly from the
first officer to the crew forward.

"Now then, Bill, steady does it," whispered Mr. Jope, and saluted
again. "You'll excuse me, sir, but Mr. Wapshott was below last night
when we brought you aboard from dinin' with his R'yal Highness."

"I remember nothing," groaned Captain Crang. "I never _do_ remember
when--and before the Duke too!"

Mr. Jope coughed. "His R'yal Highness, sir--if you'll let me say
so--was a bit like what you might call everyone else last night.
He shook hands very affectionate, sir, at parting, an' hoped to have
your company again before long."

"Did he so? Did he so?" said Captain Crang. "And--er--could you at
the same time call to mind what I answered?"

Mr. Jope looked down modestly. "Well, sir, having my hands full at
the time wi' this here little lot, I dunno as I can remember
precisely. Was it something about the theayter, Bill?" he demanded,
turning to Mr. Adams.

"It wor," answered Mr. Adams sturdily.

"And as how you'd never shipped a crew o' playactors afore, but you'd
do your best?"

"Either them very words or to that effect," confirmed Mr. Adams,
breathing hard and staring defiantly at the horizon.

"The theatre? . . . I was at the theatre?" Captain Crang passed a
shaking hand over his brow. "No, damme! . . . and yet I remember now
at dinner I heard the Duke say--"

Here it was Captain Crang's turn to stare dumbfounded at an
apparition, as a pair of handcuffed wrists thrust themselves up
through the main hatchway and were painfully followed by the rest of