He was evidently
newly out of his bunk for his face was unwashed, his hair uncombed,
and his large overcoat was roughly thrown over his sleeping
clothes.
"What the mischief does this mean?" he exclaimed throwing a note on
the table the facsimile of that which was puzzling Captain Gordon.
The two skippers were forming surmises, and were at last consoling
themselves that it was some playful trick of the bailie's, when
Marshall whispered through the skylight that a boat with seven men
in it was pulling towards the ship.
"Show them down if they come aboard, then," ordered Gordon.
And Captain Miller rushed into the pantry to hide, dreading
something serious; for he had let it out to us that he had been "on
the spree" the night before, and was not the quietest of the
company of which he had been a member. He locked the pantry door as
he heard footsteps on the companion ladder.
Two men entered the cabin. One was a big seafaring man with a
weatherbeaten face. The very appearance of his companion betrayed
the fact that he was the "officer from Kirkwall."
"Beautiful morning this!" observed the big man, addressing Captain
Gordon. Then after a pause he added: "We have just come, captain,
to ask the favour of your company with us to Kirkwall. The officer
here has a summons for you, I believe, and also one for Captain
Miller of the Albatross, who is not at present on his ship.
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