Part 9 (1/2)
”Wait a moment, then,” said Captain Tom, apprehensively ”I've an idea”
He crept back into thea ht he found his way to the passageway that connected the e deck After a brief inspection he hurried back to his coe door is padlocked on the motor room side,” he whispered
”Our pirates had no key to unlock that with Now, can you walk the deck as though your shoes were soled with loose cotton?”
”Yes,” grumbled Hank, disjointedly, ”but the snare-druive me away”
”Cram your handkerchief between your teeth,” retorted Captain To, fellows But hold your clubs ready in case your feet betray you”
Stealing along, each holding to the edge of the deck house with one hand, the motor boat boys approached the after hatchway This, evidently for purposes of ventilation, had been left partly open
Nudging his co so low as to be almost flat on the deck, prowled further aft
There, in the darkness, he used his eyes to find out what ht tough-looking men in the cabin,” he whispered, in Tom Halstead's ear
”Is Anson Dalton one of theed hih?”to,” declared To to cut out of this cove with, the whole crew held in down there”
”Hope so,” assented Joe, not very enthusiastically
”Why, we've got to,” argued Halstead ”If we don't, then that creould have the upper hand, instead, and o But wait a et back and have a look at the skipper who crawled aft Joe and Hank followed part of the way, holding their sticks in readiness in case Dalton and his men discovered their presence
”I reckon, Cap, you'll find you've got the right crowd for to-night's work,” a rough voice was declaring, as Halstead cae
”Now, don't you men misunderstand me,” replied Anson Dalton in a s you for any piratical acts I have to give a little heed to the laws of the land, even if you fellows don't What I want is this: At about two in the , when, most likely, everyone will be asleep except the one who is nursing the fellow Clodis, it is et quietly up to the house, suddenly force the door, and rush in
But, mind you all, there's to be no riot Your nuh to scare the folks of the bungalow
The two of you that I've already picked out will rush in with a stateroom door and one of the staterooet Clodis carefully and gently down to this boat Then we'll sail away, and I'll tell you what to do next But remember, no violent assault on anyone--no lawlessness, no hurting anyone badly Trust to your nualow, that Iaith me I'll make off with it in the confusion”
”Oh, will you?” wondered Captain To softly over to where Hank waited, the young skipper whispered so in that youth's ear Hank fled quietly forward, but returned with a snap-padlock, the ring of which was open With this in his hands To close, indeed, to the hatchway
”Hey! Someone on deck,” roared an excited voice below
There was an instant babel of voices, a rushi+ng of feet and a general rumpus beloo men in the van raced for the hatchway
Sla the hatchway door shut, forced the stout hasp over the staple and fastened the padlock in place!
CHAPTER VI