The moment that the anchor was down I jumped into the gig and, leaving Jack in charge, pulled ashore, in the hope of finding the admiral in his office, although I feared that the hour was rather late.  By the luckiest possible chance, however, it happened that, being exceptionally busy just then, he had deferred his departure for Kingston, and I caught him just as he was about to leave.  The old gentleman seemed a good deal put out at finding that he was still to be further delayed and, with a gesture of annoyance, broke the seal of the packet containing the dispatches and began to read the first one, standing.  Before he had read much above a dozen words, however, his look of vexation gave place to one of astonishment, and that, in turn, to one of intense satisfaction.  "Well, I'll be shot!  Most extraordinary!  Aha!  I begin to see light.  Yes, yes, of course...  Capital! splendid!  I know how to checkmate 'em.  Only just in time though, by Jove!"  I heard him mutter as he read on, at first almost inaudibly, but louder and louder as his excitement grew, until he had completed the perusal of the principal document.  Then he turned it over again and looked at the date, looked at it as though he could scarcely believe his eyes.  Finally he turned to me and said: