“Ashore, there! What do you want?”
“Is this the Isabel?”
“Yes,” is the brief reply.
“Well, I want to talk with you a moment. Can’t you run out a plank and hold that lantern nearer, so I can see to come aboard? I am from the Hemisphere.”
There is a moment’s hesitation and then the lantern approaches the steamer’s side and a plank is extended to the pier.
“Now, all I want to find out is about the alleged seizure of the vessel,” begins Jack, thrusting a cigar into the fist that releases the lantern.
“There ain’t much to say,” is the reply. “I am a United States deputy marshal and was placed in charge of the vessel this noon. Whether her cargo contains arms and ammunition I can’t say for sure, as she is not to be searched till to-morrow, but from the remarks dropped by some of the crew I’ll bet a hat the cargo has been taken off. One of the crew was considerably under the weather when I came aboard and I gathered from his talk that some of the Isabel’s cargo was shifted to another steamer, a long, black craft, some time after midnight or early this morning.”
“What was the name of the other steamer?” inquires Ashley, a sudden suspicion entering his mind.
“Blessed if I know,” replies the deputy marshal.
“The Semiramis, I’ll wager $4 to a nickel,” mutters Ashley, as he thanks the marshal and goes ashore.