“You wouldn’t expect me to tell you that, Captain,” replied the other, shutting his lips together resolutely.
“And it also seems,” continued Shooks, “that you suspected pretty strong like that Coco Key was going to be our first stop; so Badger ran down here ahead of us, sent three men ashore in that mosquito craft, which could be hidden among the reeds and mangroves, and then made for the shelter of that other Key to wait for news; is that right, Mr. Anstey?”
“Nothing to say,” the other snapped.
“Well, I’ll give orders to have a place fixed for you down below,” continued the captain, with a shrug of his broad shoulders. “There you’ll have to stay, and eat your three meals a day, until we’re ready to pull out of here, when mebbe I’ll put you ashore with some grub, and maroon you there. But you’ll not be given a chance to spy on us or get away, make up your minds to that.”
“Better than we could have looked for, under the circumstances,” admitted the officer, doubtless knowing how much more severely his commander would likely have acted under similar conditions, for Badger was known as a cruel as well as daring adventurer.
They were now well on the way back to the island, around which their course would take them, until once more the float made of empty oil barrels and planks had been regained.
Since the spies had already watched them making this, and knew everything excepting the very last discovery, there was no need to hurry them below. Captain Shooks, however, was not the man to take chances. He understood that Anstey was likely to attempt any sort of sudden, desperate move if by so doing he thought he could cripple their industry, and give his commander a better opportunity to win out.
“We’ll just tie your hands behind your backs, my friends,” he told the trio, “for I wouldn’t like to tempt you to get in worse trouble. You can sit here a little while, and I’ll see that the cargo hold is arranged for your accommodation. You’ll have to get used to the darkness, for I’ll give you no light except a hand torch to use when you are being fed. That goes, you understand?”
None of the three made any attempt to rebuff the sailor who brought stout cord and fastened their wrists behind their backs. They understood that any foolishness on their part would only arouse the tiger in the skipper, causing a frown to take the place of that smile.
Meanwhile, those on the float were working industriously away. One of the divers had gone down again, and the other was sitting there with his helmet removed, taking in great draughts of fresh air, and looking to the time when he might be called on to once again go down.