Then he described just what had happened.
The skipper's own bronzed cheeks burned to a deeper color.
"I can 'ardly believe that an Englishman would play such a trick on young h'officers of a friendly power," he declared.

"But I told you, sir, the fare out to your ship would be half a sov.

I lied.

If a nasty little cockney played such a trick on you, it's my place, as a decent Englishman, to take you out for nothing--and that's the fare." "Oh, we'll gladly pay the half sov." protested Darrin.
"Not on this craft you can't, sir," replied the skipper firmly.
Looking eagerly ahead, the three middies saw two of the launches go along side of the "Massachusetts" and discharge passengers.

As the second left the side gangway the Briton, who had been crowding on steam well, ranged in along side.
"What craft is that, and what do you want ?" hailed the officer of the deck, from above.
"The tender 'Lurline,' sir, with three of your gentlemen to put h'aboard of you, sir," the Briton bellowed through a window of the wheel-house.
"Very good, then.