The government officials conferred privately. At the end of their conference, they politely informed the captain that no charge would be placed against him. They also told Mr. Livingston that he might move the Scout cargo ashore. The government boat then pulled away.
No word was spoken until the craft was well beyond the point at which voices would carry.
Captain Carter then slapped his thigh and laughed boisterously.
“Well, Scoutmaster, how’d I do? Anyone who gets ahead of Captain Carter has to get up mighty early in the morning.”
“You may hear from those government men again,” Mr. Livingston warned.
“Oh, sure! They’ve been watching me for a year, but they know they got to have proof! They’ll keep an eye on me, but they ain’t makin’ any false moves.”
“You managed to get a tender load of grenades and other stuff ashore,” Jack said coldly. “What do you aim to do with that contraband? Sell it to the Revolutionists hiding out in the hills?”
“You’re crazy!” Captain Carter’s eyes smoldered angrily. “I told you I’m not helping any Revolutionists.”
“Then what are you doing with the stuff?”
“You’d like to know, wouldn’t you?” the captain sneered. “Well, let me tell you this, young man. I was the one person who could have helped you find Burton Monahan. But would you play along? You would not! So now you’re on your own, and bad luck to you!”