"Ah! There's the difficulty. You will be sent home, but, worse luck, they are going to keep me here, whether I like it or not." "Is that a fact? What is this vessel--a pirate?" "Goodness only knows. But to put the matter in a nutshell, I have to give my decision whether I'll become one of them or not." "And if you don't?" "I've been promised something mighty unpleasant." Thereupon Gerald related the details of the conversation of the previous evening, and the captain's peremptory demand for a definite reply. "What do you propose to reply?" asked Jack. "That's what I want to consult you about. You see there's my position to consider. If I do not turn up within thirty-three days from now I shall be branded as a deserter, unless My Lords take gentler measures and mark me down as missing. If I could serve a useful purpose to my country by accepting the man's proposals I'd do it like a shot, subject to certain guarantees." "Then why not? In any case you are booked. But I say, old fellow, when you are treating for terms, couldn't you stipulate that I am to be retained as well?" "You?" "Yes. I admit, Gerald, I don't possess the same qualifications as you do, but at the same time I'm not a duffer afloat. If this vessel is such a wonderful packet, I'd be only too delighted to stay." "All right," replied Gerald. "My mind's made up. But the quarter of an hour is up, too, so I must be off." "Well, sir," asked Captain Brookes, "have you come to any conclusion?" "I am willing, subject to certain conditions, sir," replied Gerald, firmly. "And those are----" "That I am to be treated with the respect due to a British naval officer; that I am not called upon to perform any duties prejudicial to my country----" "That I have already suggested." "That I may be allowed to dispatch a communication to the Admiralty stating the circumstances under which I am detained here; and, lastly, that my friend Jack Stockton may be allowed to remain here with me, that being his own desire." "I agree to your requests," replied Captain Brookes, though Tregarthen noted that he used the word "requests" instead of his expression "conditions." "Very good, sir." "You quite understand that my orders are to be implicitly obeyed?" "So long as I am not called upon to commit any act detrimental to my country." "That has already been decided." "Too much stress cannot be laid upon that condition, sir." "Are you prepared to wear the uniform of officers serving on board the _Olive Branch_?" "No, sir. The only uniform I am entitled to wear is that of the British Navy. As that is, of course, impossible in these circumstances, I must wear mufti." "Very well, then," replied the captain. "Now we will make a tour of the ship and you will be able to form some opinion of her capabilities."