"It's a bad morning, gentlemen," said the captain, frowning, "and I don't see how we are to start." "What!" said Sir Humphrey, frowning and speaking angrily. "Ah, I thought you'd take it that way, sir," said the skipper, scowling; "but you're wrong. I'm not going back on what I said." "Then what does this mean?" "It means, sir, that I've lost Jem Lynton, my second mate." "Lost him?" said Brace quickly. "Why, he stopped ashore to spend the evening with somebody." "That's right, squire." "You mean he hasn't come back," said Brace contemptuously. "No, I don't, sir," said the captain; "because he did come back." "But you said you had lost him," cried Brace. "That's right, sir: so I have," the captain answered. "He was to be fetched back from the shore, as you heard last night." "Yes, I heard you tell Mr Dellow to send the boat for him," said Brace. "Well?" "Boat was sent, sir, and the men say they brought him aboard. That's right, isn't it, Dellow?" and the captain turned round to his first officer. "Quite," said the first mate, who looked very much disturbed, and kept on wiping his dewy forehead with the back of his hand. "Tell 'em," said the captain. "Speak out." "Tom Jinks was with the boat, gen'lemen," said the first mate slowly; "and he says Mr Lynton come down a bit rolly, as if he'd had too much dinner. He'd got his collar turned up and his straw hat rammed down over his eyes. Never said a single word, on'y grunted as he got into the boat, and give another grunt as he got out and up the side. Then he went below directly, and they've seen no more of him!" "Tell 'em you didn't either," said the captain. "No, I didn't neither," said the mate. "To make it short, gentlemen," said the captain, "Dick Dellow here went on deck about one to cast off and go downstream in the moonlight, and sent the boy to rouse me up; and when I come on deck Dick says: `Jem Lynton don't show his nose yet.' I didn't say anything then, for I was too busy thinking, being a bit sour and gruff about Jem, and with having to get up in the middle of the night; and then I was too busy over getting off with a bit o' sail on just for steering. Then I felt better and ready to excuse the poor chap, for I said, half-laughing like, to Dick Dellow here: `Jem aren't used to going out to dinners. Let him sleep it off. He'll have a bad headache in the morning, and then I'll bully him. He won't want to go to any more dinners just before leaving port, setting a bad example to the men.'" "Then, to make it shorter still," said Brace, "the second mate did not come back?" "Didn't I tell you he did come back, sir?" said the mate huskily. "Yes, but--" began Brace. "You don't mean to say--" began Sir Humphrey.