"Pay?" repeated Tredgold, in a dazed voice.

Brisket looked at him again, and then gave a significant glance in the
direction of Captain Bowers. "We'd like twenty pounds on account--now,"
he said, calmly.

Tredgold looked hastily at his friends. "Come and see me to-morrow," he
said, nervously, "and we'll settle things."

"You can send us the rest," said Brisket, "but we want that now. We're
off to-night."

"But we must see you again," said Tredgold, who was anxious to make
arrangements about the schooner. "We--we've got a lot of things to talk
about. The--the ship, for instance."

"I'll talk about her now if you want me to," said Brisket, with
unpleasant readiness. "Meantime, we'd like that money."

Fortunately--or unfortunately--Tredgold had been to his bank that
morning, and, turning a deaf ear to the expostulations of Captain Bowers,
he produced his pocketbook, and after a consultation with Mr. Chalk, and
an attempt at one with the raging Stobell, counted out the money and
handed it over.

"And there is an I.O.U. for the remainder," he said, with an attempt at a
smile, as he wrote on a slip of paper.

Brisket took it with pleased surprise, and the mate, leaning against his
shoulder, read the contents: "_Where is the 'Fair Emily'?_"