He nodded toward a door in the forward bulkhead, and Ah Sin, after grabbing the coin out of the air and biting it to make sure it was genuine, faded from the room.
“We’ve got enough hands aboard,” said Bob, “without taking a Chinaman on.”
“You don’t understand the situation, Mr. Steele,” returned Glennie, “and I shall have to explain to you.”
It was hard for the ensign’s pride to be compelled to confess the loss of the packet. But, if he had Bob’s help—which, in the circumstances, was necessary—it followed that he would have to let Bob know the details connected with the missing dispatches.
Bob listened attentively.
“The chink may be fooling you, Mr. Glennie,” he said, after the ensign had finished.
“Possibly,” was the answer; “but I can’t afford to pass up his information. The submarine was to call at Para, anyway, and we might just as well carry the Chinaman that far. You must realize what it means for me to recover those papers. Suppose I had to report that they were lost, and could not be found? Good heavens!” and Glennie drew a shaking hand across his forehead.
“I’m willing to help you, of course,” said Bob.
“You’re in duty bound to do that! If I had to report the loss of the papers because you refused to give me your aid, it wouldn’t sound very well, eh?”