"
Caradoc stared moodily seaward as he continued his recollections.
"The governor kept warning me. I don't believe he'd ever have kicked me
out, but he died. Then they cashiered me--took my commission--and my
family let me go, too... Well, I can't blame 'em."
"Your commission--in the army?"
"Navy."
"What were you?"
"Second lieutenant."
Madden looked at his friend curiously. Here was a queer pass for an
English naval officer. This revelation explained a good deal about
Smith, his autocratic manner, his many-sided education, his emotion at
leaving England. It even explained why he had expected Malone to place
him in charge of the dock.
"Is there any hope of getting back in?" asked Leonard sympathetically.
"Instauration! Never knew of such a thing in our navy. If I ever get out
of here I'll go in trade somewhere."
"In South America?"
"I had British Honduras in mind, or Canada. I'd like to keep in the
Empire."
A noise below interrupted the conversation. The two youths looked down.
The deck plan of the tug lay flat and empty save for the inert form of
Gaskin. The noise came from inside the cabin and arose to a shouting. It
was a drunken ribald sound. A suspicion flashed on Leonard's mind.
"Those pigs below are wasting the stores," he declared.
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