“All of which means that you’re spoofing me a bit, don’t you know!” returned their visitor without resentment. He was apparently enjoying the situation hugely, and meant to make the most of it.
Seeing that his words failed to arouse or draw out the other, Jimmie turned disgustedly away to lean over the rail.
Ned began to question their guest, but was interrupted by Jimmie, who announced that he saw a steamer’s smoke on the horizon.
“This water is quite thickly sprinkled with vessels of all sorts,” said the alleged Mackinder. “Perhaps we’d better get out, you know!”
“What do you make that vessel out to be?” asked Ned.
“It doesn’t make any difference what it is,” replied the other, “we shall be better off if they don’t find us! We don’t need them!”
“Very well,” put in Jimmie, “then we’ll get up steam on this wagon and slide along. I’m going to say this to you, though, that Mackinder or no Mackinder, we’re very grateful for your help. If we get an opportunity to reciprocate, we’ll be only too glad to do it!”
With this, the boy turned and offered his hand to the man. It was grasped with a hearty grip that conveyed a sense of friendliness.
“You can help me right now,” was the response. “Come aboard my vessel and give me a hand on a little project I have under way.”