"
"Have we wimmen aboard this trip?" growled Stump in a deep rumble of
disapproval.
"Ladies, yes. Two, and a maid."
Stump bore round on his chief.
"Wot did I tell ye, Tagg?" he demanded fiercely, "Didn't I say that
them fixins aft meant no good?"
"You did," agreed Tagg, with equal asperity.
Von Kerber caught the laughter in Dick's eyes, and checked the angry
protest ready to bubble forth.
"The two _ladies_," he said, speaking with an emphasis which strove to
cloak his annoyance at Stump's offhanded manner, "are Miss Fenshawe,
granddaughter of the gentleman who owns this yacht, and her companion,
Mrs. Haxton. Without their presence this trip would not have been
undertaken, and that fact had better be recognized at the outset. But
now, gentlemen, I have come on ahead to have a quiet talk with you.
Captain Stump knows our destination, but none of you is aware of the
object of our voyage. I propose to take you fully into my confidence in
that respect. By this time, you have become more or less acquainted
with the crew, and, if you think any of the men are unsuitable, we must
get rid of them at once.
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