Down came the curtains.
"Walila! Cher walila!" roared the second yellow captain. "A spy! He must be killed!"
"A spy!" cried the British captain.
"Ha! You are a stranger to us!" came from Captain Gresson, and he eyed Oscar sharply.
"Hush! Not so loud!" said Oscar, and raised his hand, warningly.
He saw that he was in a bad situation—that nothing but a clever ruse could save his life.
"Why be still, young sir?" demanded the British captain, but in a lower tone.
"We may be overheard," whispered Oscar. "I come to you on a secret errand. Is the admiral on board?"
"No, the admiral was here, but left an hour ago."
"To go up the Alaskan coast?"