Let go-o-o!"
Luckily, Dick's office was a sinecure. The men knew what to do, and did
it. With a roar and a rattle the chain cable rushed through the hawse-
pipe, and the _Aphrodite_ rested motionless on the green water of the
roadstead.
The yacht's arrival created some stir on shore. Several boats put off,
their swarthy crews contending strenuously which should have the
valuable privilege of landing the expected passengers. Stump bustled
down from the bridge with the important air of a man who had achieved
something, and thus gave Royson an unforeseen opportunity of asking him
about the boat. The skipper swung himself back to the upper deck, and
approached Mr. Fenshawe.
"Are you goin' ashore at once, sir?" he inquired.
"Yes, the sooner the better, or the Government Offices will be closed
for the day."
"Mr. Royson," shouted Stump, "pipe the crew of the jolly-boat, an'
lower away."
"An Arab boat will be much speedier and more roomy," broke in Mrs.
Haxton, quick to observe that von Kerber was not paying heed to the
captain's preparations.
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