Part 3 (2/2)
”So nearby I couldn't see thenized by his voice The other I was unable to place I got hi on deck They are a precious pair of rascals, Ned Perhaps it is considered fair enough up here to do those things, but I just can't holdon”
”You haven't said what it was about yet,” reainst Darwood”
”You don't say?”
”Yes, they were”
”How?”
”I aht I to tell Mr
Darwood? Would it be right to carry tales, even in a case like this?”
”Not knohat the case is I can't very well advise you,” answered Ned Rector
”What did they say?”
”I'd rather not say a word about that until I have decided what to do”
”You're a queer chap, Tad You arouse my curiosity; then you won't satisfy it”
”You shall know all about it in good time Hark! Was that you who kicked the collar of the stack?”
”No I didn't hear anything Who was the other man?”
”His naether, he and the man Sandy There are some others in the plot, as I learned from the conversation, but I hardly think they are on board I take it that the others are to hich proves to ers, were learned by the plotters some time before the forrab they are planning! But I believe that, if Mr
Darwood be warned in time, he will be perfectly able to take care of himself I am quite sure I shouldn't care to be the other fellow”
”I don't knoe should get so excited over it,” grumbled Ned
”Darwood and his companions are no friends of ours I should say that quite the opposite is the case”
”But they are real men, just the same,” objected Tad ”I don't care whether they are friendly to us or not Co spars the two lads swung down to the promenade of the upper deck After they had cleared the deck-house a man dropped to the deck from the deck-house, on the opposite side
After a fewwhich the boys continued their conversation, they went below On reaching his cabin, Butler discovered that he had lost his pocket knife Thinking that it had slipped fro on the deck-house, Tad went back to look for it He was the only person in sight on deck That part of the deck was unlighted, save as a faint glow shone up through the engine roo The freckle-faced boy looked carefully about on top of the deck-house for severalmatch after runt of disappoint himself to the deck
The instant his feet touched the deck, Tad Butler rabbed fro his own right ar hand was clapped over histhe lad's head violently backwards with a jolt which for the led and fought with all his ht, but to little purpose The boy realized that he was in the hands of a th and as slowly but surely forcing him toward the steamer's rail The Pony Rider Boy felt a bushy beard over his shoulder and against his neck Noas against the rail, facing out over the water Butler knew that, despite his struggles, he was going to be dropped over the side Then a sudden idea caers in the long beard of the man behind him He heard a smothered exclamation over his shoulder, and for the instant the hand over his mouth ithdrawn
”Help!” shouted Tad Butler Then a blow on the head sent him limply to the deck