"No; he ran away from me at sea," answered young Dyer, more soberly.
"How long has your uncle been captain of the 'Victor'?" Halstead demanded, swiftly, hoping to catch this other boy off his guard.
"The 'Victor'?" repeated Ted, opening his eyes wide. If he was shamming, then it was a fine bit of acting.
"Didn't you come from the steam yacht 'Victor'?" demanded Captain Tom, looking hard at the boy.
"Never heard of the craft before," declared Ted. Then: "Hold on, though. I'm lying without meaning to, it would seem. Yes; I know the 'Victor.' She's a hundred and twenty-two foot steam yacht, fine and fast."
"That's the 'Victor' just over to port," went on Tom, still eyeing the other youth, closely.
"Is it?" asked Ted Dyer. "Then your eyesight is sharper than mine."
"Don't try to get funny," warned Halstead.
"I don't want to," protested Ted. "You all strike me as first-rate fellows. And, anyway, you've fished me up out of the vasty deep, so to speak. Where's your captain?"
"You're looking at him," replied Halstead.