Somewhat against their will, one after another of [the boys was hustled up] a rope ladder that hung over [the side of the schooner].
[THE BOYS WERE HUSTLED UP THE SIDE OF THE SCHOONER.]
“What of the motor boat? Who is going to take care of that?” questioned Jack, as he went up.
“We’ll look after the motor boat,” answered the scar-faced man.
Once on the deck of the schooner, Ralph and the others found themselves confronted by a burly, dark-faced fellow with a fierce moustache. This was Captain Gilsen.
“Now, I want the straight of this,” the captain said harshly. “No crooked story for me, understand!”
“We’re telling you the simple truth, Captain,” said Ralph, and then he and Jack and Gif told their story.
“Humph! Maybe that’s true and maybe it isn’t,” muttered the captain, tugging at his moustache. “For all I know, if I let you go, as soon as you get ashore you’ll get my friends into trouble.”
“Well, you’ll get into trouble if you don’t let us go,” answered Jack pointedly. “You have no right to detain us.”