It was plain to see that Captain Jason Sudlip was as much surprised as were Sam and Darry. He had returned in the volante expecting to find the two prisoners just where he had left them. Seeing them thus escaping upset all of his calculations.
“Come back here, I say!” he stormed. “Come back!”
“Not much!” replied Darry. “If you want us, crawl down after us.”
“Don’t tell him that!” put in Sam, in a whisper. “He’ll go below and try to cut us off.”
“Are you coming back?” demanded the ex-master of the Chester.
“Wait a minute until I unloosen my jacket,” returned Sam. “It’s caught fast on a vine.”
“Gracious, you’re not going back, are you?” whispered Darry, in dismay.
“No—we’ll fool him,” said Sam, in a still lower voice. Then he continued aloud: “We may as well give in, Darry, he’s got the best of us.”
“I hate to do it, but I’ll follow you,” answered Darry, also in a loud voice. “Will you climb up first?”
“Yes. But I’m caught fast. Wait till I cut that vine loose.”