199. Where a seaman or apprentice is brought before a Court on the ground of the offence of desertion or of absence without leave or of otherwise absenting himself without leave and the master, or the owner or his agent so requests, the Court may, instead of committing the seaman or apprentice to prison, cause him to be conveyed on board his ship for the purpose of proceeding on the voyage, or to be delivered to the master or any mate of the ship or the owner or his agent, to be by them so conveyed and may in such case order any costs and expenses properly incurred by or on behalf of the master or owner by reason of the conveyance to be paid by the offender and, if necessary, to be deducted from any wages which he has then earned or may, by virtue of his then existing engagement, afterward earn.