“I understand. Now, would it take you long to make a copy of these papers?”
“An hour, perhaps.”
“Do so while you are having something to eat. I wish to think things over.” I left him at the work and going on deck nearly tumbled over Burroughs, who was staring intently at some object through the most powerful glass we had on the yacht.
“Don’t show yourself, Ralph. Come here a moment,” and he pulled me under the lee of the pinnace behind which he was screening his action.
“What is it?”
“You’ve infected me with some of your suspicions, and as you said last night about yourself, I’m either a stupid ass or I’ve made a discovery which may be important. I’ve been watching the people on that boat there—the one with the grey hull and sharp lines. She’s called the Rampallo. She came in yesterday, and the old man tells me the whole of her crew were discharged soon after you sent for me.”
“Well, what’s that to us? We don’t want any hands.”
“But she hasn’t taken on another.”
“I suppose her skipper or owner can please himself.”
“But the skipper went with the crew as well. And when I came off this morning to fetch the launch, I saw that tall young dandy on board her—the fellow who was out with us.”