Kendall.

"'Captain knifed, killed, Kru boy argument boat fare,'" Cappy read
aloud. "Skinner, my dear boy, what is the cable rate per word to Cape
Town?"

"Ninety-eight cents per word," replied Mr. Skinner, who had just
looked it up.

"We will if you please, Skinner, confine ourselves to round numbers.
There is such a thing as being too exact. Call it a dollar. Figuring
on that basis, I see this garrulous mate has squandered five dollars
of our money to no purpose--yes, by jingo, more than that. He might
have used the code book! Hum-m-m! Ahem! Harump-h-h-h! Skinner, this
fellow will not do. He is too windy. Skinner, he tells the story in
eight words, and forgets to use his code book. Give me a skipper,
Skinner, my boy, who always has his owner's interest at heart and
displays a commendable discretion in limiting the depredations
practiced by the cable company. For instance, the man Peasley might
have omitted the word knifed; also the explanatory words, argument
boat fare, and the word mate. Though regretting Noah's demise most
keenly, as business men we are not cable-gramically interested in the
means employed to accomplish his removal. Neither do the causes
leading up to the tragedy interest us. The man Peasley should merely
have said "Captain murdered." Also, he might have trusted to us to
realize that when the captain dies the first mate takes charge. He
need not have identified himself--the infernal chatter-box!"

Cappy read the next sentence. "Instruct consignees honor my drafts as
captain."