This was uttered so candidly that Halstead wondered if he had taken leave of his own senses. There could be no doubt at all that young Dunstan believed every word he was uttering.
“Your father knows you’re here?” Tom insisted questioningly.
“Of course he does. It’s by his orders that I am here and that I am keeping quiet. And now, clear out. I’ve talked to you more than is right. I know what you and your chum are—a pair of slippery eels!”
“You say your father knows——You say he ordered you——” Tom went on vaguely. “Ted Dunstan, do you think you’re telling the truth or anything like it? And who on earth should you——”
“Clear out of this,” ordered the Dunstan heir firmly. “I don’t like to see you get into any trouble, but I’m not going to listen to you any longer. My father can tell you about this, if he has a mind to. I’ve no right to talk about it and I won’t. Now if you can swim as well as you say you can, prove it and reach shore on the double-quick. Pedro! Pedro! Wake up! Now you git, Halstead!”
“Clear Out of This!” Ordered the Dunstan Heir.
“But Ted——” persisted the dumfounded young skipper.
“Well, stay, then, and let Pedro get his hands on you,” defied the Dunstan heir. “Pedro! Aren’t you going to wake up?”
“Coming, chile,” sounded a drowsy voice, followed by the noise of heavy movements.