"Got a gun?" he inquired.
"Cabin. Goin' for it first opportunity."
"Same here. But the captain will give us some sort of warning?"
"Perhaps not. Die quick, die happy."
Then Gray smiled, and he could not help saying: "Tell you what, cousin,
if you shoot as straight as you talk, these stewards will come to heel,
no matter what happens."
"Fair shot," admitted Tollemache, and he stalked off to his stateroom,
while the Count was vociferating, for the last time:
Quel bon p'tit roi c'etait la!
La, la!
Between Elsie and de Poincilit the chorus made quite a respectable din.
Few noticed that the saloon main companion had been opened again, until
the sharp bark of a dog joining in the hand-clapping turned every eye
towards the stairway. Captain Courtenay was descending. In front ran
Joey, who, of course, imagined that the plaudits of the audience
demanded recognition. Courtenay had removed his oilskins before
leaving the bridge. His dark blue uniform was flecked with white foam,
and a sou'wester was tied under his chin, otherwise his appearance gave
little sign of the wild tumult without.
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