"I guess," the boy mused, "they've got the top hand. The Lieutenant has his military authority, and also has the senator's son here to swear to anything he asks him to!"
"You should have made a getaway in the Manhattan," Ben said, in a moment.
"Then I wouldn't have seen the unloading of the arms," Ned answered.
Ben arose and stood yawning by the side of his prisoner. The Lieutenant and the senator's son approached and stood for a moment looking down on the two captives.
"Why not call the drum-head now?" asked the senator's son. "It will help to pass a couple of hours which might otherwise be dull."
"Call it, then," said the officer. "The sooner it is over the better."
Ned looked up to the mountain as one looks to a friend for assistance and cheer when things are going hard, and the mountain did not disappoint him. For there, high up, was the green light of a distant rocket.
The Manhattan had found the gunboat and was using the signals.