“Ship and cargo?”
“Exactly, although there was no cargo except a few empty casks and boxes labeled merchandise. As I said, I supposed Marcy and Will Bertram and Tom Dalton were drowned.”
“And they ain’t?” inquired one of the sailors.
“No. This boy returns and says they are still in the Arctic regions. If so, we are safe.”
“But they are alive?”
“True; but I only want to keep the boy quiet a week and Marcy away, and our plans will be completed.”
“You mean the insurance money?”
“Yes. That will be paid over soon. I have converted all my other property into money, and we will leave Watertown before the truth is known. This boy also spoke of the Albatross. When I returned I reported that ship lost with all on board but myself. Instead, I had made a bargain with the captain, who rescued me, to seize the oil the Albatross had stored away, and we divided the profits.”
“You’re in a bad box, captain, if the truth gets out.”
“It mustn’t. This boy must be kept a close prisoner until the insurance money is collected.”