Then, tiptoeing softly over to where Hank waited, the young skipper whispered something in that youth’s ear. Hank fled quietly forward, but returned with a snap-padlock, the ring of which was open. With this in his hands Tom stole back aft, this time going close, indeed, to the hatchway.
“Hey! Someone on deck,” roared an excited voice below.
There was an instant babel of voices, a rushing of feet and a general rumpus below. Two men in the van raced for the hatchway.
Slam! snap! click! Tom Halstead swung 70 the hatchway door shut, forced the stout hasp over the staple and fastened the padlock in place!
CHAPTER VI
CARRYING DANGEROUS LIVE “FREIGHT”
“Cooped!” chuckled Joe Dawson, jubilantly.
Yet his voice could not much more than be heard above the racket that sounded below. Anson Dalton and his seven rough men were raising a hubbub, indeed.