Captain Pons got up and bowed again to Captain Sandoval. Not to be outdone in courtesy, Captain Sandoval arose and bowed to Captain Pons.
"If I do heem ze wrong," said Captain Pons gravely, "zen I make ze _amende_. Until he explains, I have ze right to call him mos' contemptible."
"You have the right," agreed Captain Sandoval.
All this was highly edifying to Matt, but it did not get him very far along with his explanation.
When he got started, however, he held the floor in spite of disturbing symptoms on the part of Pons to get up and bow. He carried the explanation through to its conclusion, and not failing to put due stress on the dangers he and his friends had undergone in their attempt to get the better of the Sons of the Rising Sun.
The two captains were deeply impressed. For some moments after Matt had finished they sat speechless in their chairs; then, as one man they arose. Together they bowed to Matt.
"_Ay de mi_," breathed Captain Sandoval, "did you ever hear of anything so wonderful?"
"Mos' r-r-remarkable!" exclaimed Captain Pons.
Then they bent to each other. After that Captain Sandoval sat down, but Captain Pons stepped over to Matt and embraced him; then, before Matt could defend himself, Captain Pons kissed him on the cheek.
"_Mon ami!_" said he; "my friend, I mak' ze apologee. I ask zat you forgeeve ze talk about you as ze mos' contemptible. It is I, me, zat is mos' contemptible----"
"No, no, my captain," protested Captain Sandoval, putting up his hand, "you shall not so greatly injure yourself."
"I r-r-repeat," thundered Captain Pons, thumping his chest fiercely, "I made ze mistake, and I, myself, am mos' contemptible."
Captain Sandoval sighed and looked depressed.
"Zis brav' young man," proceeded Captain Pons, "save ze _Pom_ for me. I sank heem, as one gentleman sank anozzer. Zere, ze debt is cancel. All zat remain is for me to hol' him in mos' tender memory."
"The six Japanese are on the island, Captain Sandoval," said Matt, who was beginning to get a little bit tired of Pons and his mushy nonsense. "Will you send a party ashore to capture them?"
"And, by the way, Captain Pons," went on Matt, "didn't you say there were only five Japs in the crew that stole the _Pom_."