Ted again thanked Tom and Joe, and for that matter, the others who had aided him. Then the Dunstan party prepared to go.
“Halstead, you and your friend will remain, I hope,” proposed Mr. Lawrence.
“Certainly he may remain,” said Mr. Dunstan. “I fancy he can be of much assistance to you, gentlemen. So will Dawson.”
“And Mr. Dunstan,” suggested Lawrence, going after Ted’s father, “may we, if it seems necessary, use your boat to-night?”
“I would be a poor citizen to refuse that to the Government’s officers,” smiled Mr. Dunstan. “Certainly you may have the ‘Meteor.’”
Warren and his friends remained, but went to another side of the room. Tom and Joe were invited to seat themselves and go over the whole story with the Government officers.
When Lawrence saw the note that had been pressed into Halstead’s hand, out in the crowded square, the inspector looked rather grave.
“Yes, that defiance comes from Alvarez,” he declared. “Now, Captain Halstead, until the rascals have been taken, or driven from the country, you will do well to be wholly on your guard. Alvarez, when driven into a corner, is as desperate and remorseless as is the proverbial fighting rat.”
“You’re going over to Sanderson’s place to-night, are you?” asked Joe, after some more of the tale had been told.
“Assuredly,” replied Mr. Lawrence. “We shall have to watch every night until an attempt is made to get the unlawful cargo out onto the high seas. But I am afraid Alvarez and his crowd will be in hiding to-night, fearing the local officers on account of the Dunstan business.”