"The situation is this," the latter began. "When those rascals raided this boat they robbed me of my gun and I suppose they got yours, too, didn't they, Mr. Baker?"
The father of the missing freshman slapped his hand on his "pistol pocket" and then gasped:
"Yes, it's gone."
"I thought so," continued the officer. "Now, we have an armed enemy to contend with. If they get wind of the fact that we have the son of one of them a prisoner on this yacht, you can expect a fusillade of bullets popping through your portholes any time. My advice is to get out of here as soon as possible."
"Where'll we go?" asked Mr. Perry.
"We'll decide that after we get away. If you want to keep your prisoner, don't stay here."
"Dad's got his automatic yet," Cub reminded with youthful confidence in a chamber full of shells.
"And I've got my slingshot," chimed in Bud.
"Tee-hee," laughed Hal.
"Oh you can laugh all you want to, Tee-hee, but if it hadn't been for my slingshot, we wouldn't have any prisoner at all right now," Bud flung back with a suggestion of resentment.