“Your boat back!” cried Vince, as one of the smuggler crew made fast a rope to the ring-bolt in their stern.
“Aye. Didn’t know as young gen’lemen took to stealing boats altogether.”
“You dare to say we stole the boat, and I’ll—”
“Well, you took it right away, anyhow. That comes o’ beginning with borrying and not asking leave.”
“Better than taking to kidnapping people.”
Old Joe growled out something, and shuffled himself about in his seat while the boat was drawn out into the sunshine once more, and drifted behind the other rapidly along till she reached the smugglers’ cavern.
“Give zem some biscuit and some vater,” said the captain. “You, Joseph, take your boat and go on. Allez!”
The old fisherman looked at him rather uneasily, then at the boys, and back at the captain.
“You hear vat I sall say?” cried the latter fiercely.
He made a menacing gesture; and the boys took each a deep draught of water, and began to nibble the hard sea biscuit that was their fare.