“Oh, I’ve been snooping about a bit, for two years or so, getting tips for Dave Lemly.”
“What has Lemly been smuggling in the ‘Black Betty’ all this time?”
“Diamonds,” admitted Jasper, sullenly.
Tom Halstead felt like giving a great start, but controlled himself.
“Smuggling diamonds under Anson Dalton’s orders, eh?” insisted the young skipper.
“How did you come into our matter—as a guard and a traitor?”
“I was on hand when Mr. Seaton was getting his guards together,” replied Jasper. “So was Dave Lemly’s mate. The mate told me to jump in and get my chance with the guard.”
“What other orders did you have?”
“I was to watch my chance to do anything nasty that I could,” confessed the fellow, hanging his head.