"It's a petrol launch," said the skipper, "and unless I'm much mistaken they're coming along to say good-morning to us." With quiet deliberation Tony surveyed the advancing vessel, which was already swinging round in the direction of the _Betty_. "I can't see any one yet," he announced, "but it's pretty sure to be Colonel Saltero. Jimmy, you'd better go downstairs and lock yourself in the bathroom with Molly. I don't want him to know that we're a passenger steamer.' "Right you are," said Jimmy with alacrity. "Come and tell us when it's all over." He climbed down the bridge ladder, whistling tunefully to himself, and turning back towards the approaching launch, Tony again scrutinized it carefully through his glasses. As it drew nearer he was able to see that there were three men on board, and amongst them he soon made out the square-shouldered, aggressive figure of Colonel Saltero. That distinguished warrior was seated in the stern, and even from a considerable distance one could detect the air of truculent authority with which he was directing operations. Tony snapped his glasses together and turned to the skipper. "I think I had better go down on the deck, and prepare to make pretty speeches," he said. "I suppose they will be able to come alongside all right." Captain Simmons eyed his advancing visitors with an air of mistrustful calculation. "I wouldn't go as far as that," he observed grimly, "but I dare say they'll manage it somehow or other." "Never mind," said Tony, "paint's cheap." He descended in leisurely fashion to the deck, and walked across to the starboard side, where the members of the crew had collected together awaiting the skipper's orders. A little apart from the others, and leaning over the rail, stood Mr. McEwen and "Tiger" Bugg. For some obscure reason these two had struck up an immediate and firm friendship, with the result that Bugg had spent practically the entire trip in the breezy atmosphere of the engine-room. Tony strolled up and joined them. "Guid-morning to ye, Sir Antony," observed the chief engineer removing his pipe. "Good-morning, Mr. McEwen," said Tony. "Having a look at the visitors?" There was a pause. "I was wondering," said Mr. McEwen softly, "whether yon swab who put that nine-inch spanner in my cylinder micht be amang the pairty." Tony shook his head. "I'm afraid not," he replied regretfully. There was a sudden exclamation of interest from Bugg. "Why, look, sir! See 'im, sir? It's the cross-eyed bloke. The one I knocked aht in Long Acre." He pointed excitedly towards the approaching launch, above which the sombre scowl of Colonel Saltero was now plainly visible to the naked eye. "You're quite right, Bugg," said Tony. "It's the same gentleman, but he is coming to see me this time in a nice friendly spirit, so perhaps you had better keep out of the way. He mightn't like to be reminded of that push in the face."