"I see. Well, let us hope we get through with this trip in safety."
"Don't you imagine we'll do it?" questioned Larry, quickly.
"Certainly. But you must remember that we may have trouble if we fall in with any Russian warship." Captain Ponsberry lowered his voice. "Did you have trouble with Semmel?"
"A little. I ordered him to coil up some ropes and he didn't obey me right away. But he stowed them away afterwards."
Captain Ponsberry drew a long breath. "The more I see of that chap the less I like him."
"I never liked him from the start," answered Larry, frankly. "But you'll have to give him credit for being a good all-round sailor."
"There is no doubt but what he is that, Larry. But he has a bad eye."
"What do you think he could do to harm us?"
"Nothing—unless we fell in with a Russian warship. In that case, if he was a Russian sympathizer, he might expose the fact that while we are carrying a cargo for the Richmond Importing Company the goods are really meant for the Japanese Government."
"Does he know that?"