"I wish you'd do me a favor," he whispered. "Go ashore and try to hunt up the captain. He must be around somewhere. I will try to hold the supercargo back as much as I can."
Dave and the senator's son were willing, and in less than ten minutes were on the dock and moving for the streets beyond.
"Where are those boys going?" asked Jasper Van Blott, coming up to Phil.
"They are going to look for Captain Marshall."
"Humph!" muttered the supercargo, and said no more.
"I think we had better wait until the captain returns," went on Phil.
"I am not going to wait," snapped Van Blott. "I am going to get that cargo ashore as quickly as it can be done."
And fifteen minutes later the hatches were opened and the work of getting out the boxes, barrels, and casks began.