"Ned and Jimmie are having a good soaking," Jack said, his ill humor all gone, as he soused his wet underclothing in a tub of sea water. "I wish they'd come home."
A dull thump, as of a canoe striking the motor boat, and a quick step on the prow caused both boys to spring to their feet.
"There they come now!" Jack cried, glancing out into the slanting rain, "and it's good and wet they are."
The boy was about to step forward and open the cabin door when Frank caught him by the shoulder.
"Wait!" he said. "Look there!"
Jack followed the pointing finger with his eyes and saw half a dozen Filipinos clambering into the cockpit, and also saw the muzzles of American-built rifles covering the cabin door.
"Get your gun!" Jack whispered.
"We've got to do something besides shoot," Frank said. "They have the drop on us. We should have been looking out for an attempt at surprise."
There was a moment's silence, and then a man enveloped from neck to heels in a heavy raincoat and sweating tremendously in consequence, advanced to the cabin door.
"Never mind the guns!" he said, through the glass. "My men have you covered, and it would be a pity to shoot two likely boys!"