Cade stared, and so did the partners.
"Who you are, sir?" stammered the second greaser in great amazement.
"Yes, who I am?" repeated the skipper.
"Why, you are Captain Jordan, sir," said Cade, still out of soundings.
"Of what ship, Mr. Cade?"
"Of this one, sir," replied Cade, who hoped that the skipper hadn't gone mad.
"Exactly so, Mr. Cade," said the 'old man,' who had by this time made up his mind to a very definite course of action. "You hear that, gentlemen?"
They did hear it, but were not much wiser. They looked at each other in some amazement.
"What do you mean, you old fool?" asked Sloggett. But Jordan did not answer him. He spoke again to Cade.
"And if I am the skipper of this boat," he went on, "who are these gentlemen who are givin' me directions to put you ashore at Gib?"
Cade eyed them malevolently, and for the first time a glimpse of the captain's meaning came to him. His face lightened, and he smiled grimly.
"Why, they are only passengers," he said.
