It was not impossible that he had made a mistake in copying his letter; but the object of Mulgrum in desiring to see the original of the letter from England was sufficiently apparent.

"Bring me my copy of the letter," he wrote on the tablet, and handed it back to the owner.
The captain took from his desk a bundle of letters and selected one, which he opened and laid on the table, though not where his copyist could see it.

Mulgrum returned and presented him the letter, pointing out the mistake he had discovered.

He looked at the blind letter, and then at the other.

There was certainly an error, for his letter said "and they comprise about one of crew of each vessel." This was nonsense, for he had accidentally omitted the word "half" after "one." He inserted the word above the line in its proper place, and gave it back to the copyist.