They were soon rescued, but the mishap did not tend to sweeten the
temper of the _Cigno's_ commander. A dry officer and crew were
requisitioned, and the boat was pulled alongside the yacht.
Stump, with a malicious grin on his face, leaned over the starboard
rail.
"Wot is it?" he demanded. "Have you lost yer bearin's?"
The officer replied in Italian, greatly to Stump's disgust.
"I s'pose the chap they chucked overboard was the on'y Dago among 'em
who could speak English," he grunted, but Mrs. Haxton explained that
the officer was asking for the gangway to be lowered. Stump nodded to a
couple of sailors, and the ladder dropped so smartly that the boat
nearly came to grief a second time.
The officer bowed very politely when he reached the deck. Probably he
was surprised to find himself in the presence of two such beautiful
women. Though Irene spoke Italian, Mrs. Haxton took on herself the role
of interpreter. The _Cigno_ carried two letters from the Governor of
Massowah, she said. One was addressed to Signor Fenshawe, the other to
the signor captain of the British yacht _Aphrodite_.
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