"They may be punished for attempting to wreck the Sea Lion."
"I don't like diplomatic cases," Ned said. "The rascals usually get free of punishment."
"Well," Captain Moore said, "suppose we go on board the Union while we can. As soon as the alleged shopkeeper is found behind the counter, there will be the dickens to pay. They will know that the identity of the big gun has been established, and every attempt to murder us will be made."
"You think the man knew you?" asked Ned.
"I don't know. You noticed how I changed my attitude all I could when he looked at me. I rather fancied he saw something military about me before that."
"Then we may as well go aboard," Ned said.
"You have made a wonderful success of the mission," the Captain said, that night. "You have done everything expected of you and more. Has it been easy?"
"Well," was the reply, "we have been kept busy!"
The Captain laughed and pointed to the shore of the inlet in which the
Union lay.
"There are people who want to come aboard!" he said. "See the commotion on shore?"