"
He paused, and looked at Stump. That broad-beamed navigator emptied his
glass again, and gazed into it fixedly, apparently wondering why
champagne was so volatile a thing. Tagg followed the skipper's example,
but fixed his eyes on the bottle, perhaps in calculation. Royson,
deeming it wise to hold his tongue, contented himself with closing the
medicine chest, and thus making it possible for von Kerber to sit down.
The latter was obviously ill at ease. Although he was the master of
these three men, he was their inferior in individual strength of
character. But he was a polished man of the world, and he promptly
extricated himself from a difficult position, though Royson, at least,
detected the effort he was compelled to make.
"I see you are thinking that one bottle does not go far among four of
us, Mr. Tagg," he exclaimed, with a pleasantly patronizing air. "Kindly
tell the steward to bring another, Mr. King. And some cigars. Then we
can discuss matters at our ease. And will you make sure that we are not
overheard? What I have to say is meant for the ship's officers alone at
this moment, though, when the time for action comes, every man on board
must be with us absolutely.
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