“Then you’re cooking your own goose! Either you lay hold and help heave the guns overboard, or I’ll deny all knowledge of the cargo.”
“That lie wouldn’t get you far.”
“You think not? I’m afraid, my dear Livingston, that you don’t know Peruvian officials as I do. They’ll believe me all right.”
Seizing a fire ax, the captain smashed open a box bearing the Scout name. Hauling out dynamite and other explosives, he dropped them overboard.
By this time, the government boat was drawing close to the schooner.
Abandoning the axe, Captain Carter dragged the filled boxes to the port railing. One by one he shoved them overboard. The heavily laden containers fell with loud splashes, sinking slowly out of sight into the dark water.
Silently, Mr. Livingston and the four Explorers witnessed the disposal of the contraband cargo. Once, as the Scout leader tried to halt the dumping, Captain Carter drew his revolver.
“Keep back!” he warned. “Move out of my way!”
He dropped the last telltale box into the water, letting it fall carefully to avoid a heavy splash.
The government boat emerged from the dark a moment later, pulling alongside the Shark.