The clang of the engine bells answered and the yacht lost way. Instantly the Watson followed suit, sheering inward as she did so. Closer they came and closer until the Watson poked her sharp nose under the yacht’s overhanging counter, and Topham caught the trailing Jacob ladder and swarmed over the rail and dropped upon her deck.
Ouro Preto faced him. “What does this—this piracy mean?” he demanded.
Topham took no notice of the words. He could afford to ignore them. Besides Ouro Preto was “her” brother. Politely he saluted.
“I am instructed by the President of the United States to bring him the young lady whom you kidnapped tonight. Kindly produce her!”
“I won’t do it.”
Topham shrugged his shoulders. “Then I shall be compelled to take you into port as a pirate,” he said, distinctly.
Ouro Preto shook with the fury that possessed him. The hopes of years were crumbling before his eyes.
“You have no right,” he clamored. “No right. This is a German vessel—”
“Your pardon. She was once a Brazilian ship, but she has forfeited her rights by engaging in rebellion against Brazil. She is now an outlaw if not a pirate. Give up the girl and do not force me to take the vessel of a former friend into port as a prize.”
Ouro Preto glared for a moment. But before he could utter the defiance that was on the end of his tongue, a feminine voice broke in.