“All right,” said Robbins, grinning. “I wouldn’t strike him, anyhow. Against regulations. Wait a minute, you fellows, till I turn him over to somebody aboard.”
Taking the prisoner by an arm, he marched him to the rail of the Sub Chaser, where a sailor who had been an interested observer to what went forward, was leaning. Returning, Robbins, not much older in appearance than Bob but of slighter build, said:
“What’s to be done?”
He respected the boys for their quick thinking and courage in emergencies, and deferred to them. All four looked at each other in silence. It was a ticklish situation for young heads.
“Ensign Warwick told you not to leave the boat, didn’t he?” asked Jack.
Robbins nodded.
“It probably would be foolish for all of us to go chasing off up the canyon without knowing any more than we do, anyhow,” said Jack.
“Look here, you fellows,” said Frank. “What’s
the matter with our going scouting up the trail, the three of us? We know there is danger ahead and have a pretty good idea of what it is, and so we ought to be able to guard against it. Three men would make a likely reinforcement in case we find our friends hard pressed.”
“Yes, but nine men would be better,” said Robbins. “If there was only some way you could send back word, in case you find our men bottled up, I could bring up my outfit.”