"Above all, don't let him get anywhere near the prisoner in the brig. Don't permit any possibility of communication between Dyer and Cragthorpe."
"I understand, Captain."
Before he had been at work for an hour Ted Dyer was earning golden good opinions from the acting chief quartermaster. Not the slightest curiosity did the new member of the crew display about anything that didn't concern him. As a worker Ted Dyer was number one.
About three o'clock the evidence of a new game on the part of the enemy came to notice. The steam launch of the "Victor" ceased sounding her whistle off at the starboard of the "Panther." Tom Halstead, who was on deck, ready to note the slightest sign, became instantly suspicious.
"Mr. Davis," he called, "sound the agreed-on signal from our own fog-horn for Bickson to come in, post-haste with our power boat."
From the "Panther's" fog-horn sounded four short blasts.
Just a few minutes later Tom Halstead, listening at the rail, heard the "Victor's" machinery moving at faster rate.
"There they go, stealing away from us," muttered the young skipper.
"And not sounding their fog-horn any more, either," commented Joseph Baldwin.