y. He climbed on deck and looked about him. The
lieutenant stepped forward. Captain Salt shook hands and asked:

"Where is the Commodore?"

"In his cabin."

"Alone?"

"No; he is holding a council of war. All his captains are there."

Captain Salt whistled softly to himself.

"How long have they been sitting?" he asked.

"Less than ten minutes. In fact they have but just arrived."

"Thank you. I'll go down and look in."

"My friend," he said to himself, as he walked aft and descended the
ladder, "the chance has come sooner than you expected. You'll have
to play this game boldly."

He knocked at the cabin door and entered, with the dust of travel
thick upon him. He had ridden thirty-six miles since breakfast along
dusty roads and under a broiling sun. Nevertheless his manner was
cool enough as he bowed to all present.

"I must apologise, gentlemen, for the state of my clothes; but I
heard you were sitting and could not rest until I had saluted you."

They welcomed him heartily as he dropped into a vacant chair.
M. de la Pailletine reached across the table and shook hands with
him.

"It is very thoughtful of you," said the Commodore. "We were about
to draw up a plan of the cruises to be taken this week and shall be
glad to have your advice."

"I'm afraid, gentlemen, I'm too weary to offer much advice. But that
need not prevent my listening with attention to the wisdom of
others."

There was the faintest shade of derision in his voice, if they had
any cause for suspecting it. As it was, however, not a man present
had the slightest mistrust of him. He had conquered all their
prejudices.

The Commodore resumed the short speech he had been making; and when
he had concluded, one captain followed another with criticism and
fresh proposals--Captain Baudus, of _Le Paon_, the Chevalier de
Sainte-Croix, of _La Merveille_, Captain Denoyre, of the
_Sanspareil_. During their speeches Captain Salt sat perfectly
silent, either resting his head on his hands and stifling his yawns
as though politely concealing his weariness, or drumming quietly with
his fingers on the table and staring up at the ceiling like one lost
in thought.

But, all of a sudden, as M. de la Pailletine was in the act of
offering some remarks upon a scheme of Captain Denoyre's for a
descent upon the Isle of Thanet, the Englishman, still yawning, got
upon his legs and said very carelessly:

"I regret to interrupt _M. le Chef d'esc