Seeing the angry faces of the men, and the animated talk forward, Frank told the captain to call all hands aft.
"Look here, my men," he said.

"I see that you are all aware of what has taken place.

It is most disgraceful and unfortunate, and I need hardly say that I am as much vexed as yourselves at losing the Cup, which, but for that, we must have carried off.

However, it is one of those cases in which there is nothing to be done, and we should only make things worse by making a fuss about it.

We have no ground whatever for believing that it was the work of one of the Phantom's crew, and it is far more likely that it was the work of some longshore loafer who had laid more than he could afford against us.
It has partly been our own fault, but we shall know better in future, and your captain will take good care that there shall be an anchor watch set for two or three nights before we sail another race.
"What I have called you up for is to beg of you not to make this an occasion for disputes or quarrels ashore.