"That'll buck the governor up, I reckon," he soliloquized, as he handed in the cablegram.
His next move was to interview the master of the S.S. _Quilboma_, who, as luck would have it, was also part owner, and being badly in want of a cargo agreed to undertake the run to Bulonga and back at a very reasonable figure.
"When can you get under way?" inquired Peter.
"Tide time to-morrow night," was the reply. "Say about six o'clock."
Peter's peregrinations that day were by no means finished. After being held up and interviewed by the local representative of the _Kilba Protectorate Gazette_, who was also a correspondent to one of the principal London dailies, he found out Olive and told her of his latest plans.
"It won't take much more than a week--perhaps less," he explained. "I don't think that in any case you will be able to find a homeward-bound vessel by that time."
"I won't trouble to do so," declared the girl. "Mr. Davis and his wife are no end of good sorts."
Preston received the news of Peter's venture with considerable envy.
"Wish I were fit enough," he remarked; "I'd come along and help you through with it. Keep your eyes open, old man, and see if you can find out anything about the _West Barbican_. It seems to me that somebody in Bulonga might be able to throw out a good hint as to the cause of the explosion. I may be wrong, but those are my sentiments. When do you sail?"
"That's unfortunate, my lad," rejoined the Acting Chief. "These people here are giving us a lush-up to-morrow evening. Couldn't wait, I suppose?"
"Any time between six and nine," added Preston. "Ask the Old Man--he's not your boss, you're employing him--to put it off say till a quarter to nine. Then you'll be able to have most of the fun; Miss Baird and Mrs. Shallop will be there, of course, although I guess neither of us is particularly keen on the old woman's presence."
"She turned up trumps when she tackled the Arab," Peter reminded him.
"All right, get on with it," interposed Preston good-humouredly. "It will be an ordeal for me, watching you fellows enjoying yourselves, an' the doctor's shoved me on to a light diet. He didn't want to let me go, but I'll be there, even if it snows ink."
So back to the harbour Mostyn went to interview the skipper of the _Quilboma_ once more.