“Are you sure of it?”
“Yes; there can be no doubt. I made out the landmark that Grebbens told me would identify it beyond all question. That’s the mast which they erected on the shore, close to the inlet. You can see it without the glass,” added the captain, turning about and looking in that direction.
Such was the case, and Storms observed it plainly.
“What’s the matter, captain?” asked the mate, bringing his gaze back to the face of his friend, and scrutinizing him keenly. “You look pale and agitated. Have your nerves given out after this strain?”
“Abe,” said the captain, in a carefully-guarded voice, and glancing over his shoulder, “I learned, a few minutes ago, that those two men forward intend to mutiny and run away with the pearls.”
“Is that all? Why, I knew that weeks ago!”
“You did?” demanded the astounded captain. “Why, then, didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought it was better to wait till we reached the island, by which time their plans were likely to be more fully developed.”
“That sort of reasoning I don’t understand,” said the captain, anything but pleased with his mate. “But never mind about it now. Tell me what you have learned.”