Stump instantly became silent. He seemed to remember his "sailing orders." He muttered something about "playin' me for a sucker," and shut his lips obstinately. Not another word did he utter until they reached Dover. He smoked furiously, gave Royson many a wrathful glance, but bottled up the tumultuous thoughts which troubled him. On board the steamer, however, curiosity conquered prudence. After surveying Dick's unusual proportions from several points of view, he came up and spoke in what he intended to be a light comedy tone. "I say, Mr. Second Mate," he said, "I don't see the Plimsoll Mark on the funnel. Do you?" "No, captain. I expect it has been washed off." "If I was you I'd write to the Board of Trade about it." "Best let sleeping dogs lie, captain." "Why?" "Because they might look for yours, and as it ought to be round your neck they would say you were unseaworthy." "So you know what it is, you long swab?" "Yes. Come and have a drink. That will reach your load-line all right." Royson had hit on the right method of dealing with Stump. The skipper promised himself some fun, and they descended to the saloon. The Channel was in boisterous mood, and Dick staggered once or twice in transit. Stump missed none of this, and became more jovial. Thus might one of the Hereford stots he resembled approach a green pasture. "If you ask the steward he'll bring you some belayin' tackle," he said. "I am a trifle crank just now," admitted Royson, "but when the wind freshens I'll take in a reef or two." Stump looked up at him. "You've put me clean, out of reckonin'. Never bin to sea, you say? Wot's yer name?" "King, Richard King." "Damme, I'm comin' to like you. You're a bit of a charak-ter. By the time the _Aphrodite_ points her nose home again I'll 'ave you licked into shape." They were crossing the saloon, and were sufficiently noteworthy by force of contrast to draw many eyes. Indeed, were Baron von Kerber on board, he must have been disagreeably impressed by the fact that in sending the short skipper and the long second mate of the _Aphrodite_ to Marseilles in company he had supplied an unfailing means of tracking their movements. Of course, he was not responsible for the chance that threw them together, but the mere presence of two such men on the same vessel would be remembered quite easily by those who make it their business to watch trans-Channel passengers.