Publisher's Synopsis
esponsibility."He was actually walking with me to the door. What a distance off it seemed! I moved like a manin bonds. But we reached it at last. I opened it with the sensation of dealing with mere dream-stuff, and then at the last moment the fellowship of seamen asserted itself, stronger than the difference ofage and station. It asserted itself in Captain Ellis' voice."Good-bye-and good luck to you," he said so heartily that I could only give him a gratefulglance. Then I turned and went out, never to see him again in my life. I had not made three stepsinto the outer office when I heard behind my back a gruff, loud, authoritative voice, the voice of ourdeputy-Neptune.It was addressing the head Shipping-Master who, having let me in, had, apparently, remainedhovering in the middle distance ever since. "Mr. R., let the harbour launch have steam up to take thecaptain here on board the Melita at half-past nine to-night."I was amazed at the startled alacrity of R's "Yes, sir." He ran before me out on the landing. Mynew dignity sat yet so lightly on me that I was not aware that it was I, the Captain, the object of thislast graciousness. It seemed as if all of a sudden a pair of wings had grown on my shoulders. Imerely skimmed along the polished floor.But R. was impressed."I say!" he exclaimed on the landing, while the Malay crew of the steam-launch standing bylooked stonily at the man for whom they were going to be kept on duty so late, away from theirgambling, from their girls, or their pure domestic joys. "I say! His own launch. What have you doneto him?"His stare was full of respectful curiosity. I was quite confounded.
