"How soon will Randolph be back?" asked Mr. Baldwin.
"Within ten minutes, sir."
"Then I shall want him to put Mr. Ross and myself ashore. We two must take up the seemingly impossible task of locating young Giddings in the heart of Chinatown's slums, and bring him here by force, yet without noise. Once we get him on board, and below, we can keep the young man quiet until morning, when we'll be well out on the ocean. Dr. Gray will attend to that."
"Are your friends going to remain on board, without dinner?" asked Halstead.
"No; they can go ashore and get dinner at a restaurant, returning presently. Mr. Randolph can keep the tender at the landing stage until they return. Then, as soon as he has brought our other friends aboard, Mr. Randolph can return for Ross and myself, when we get back. But Mr. Randolph must not let Costigan or the crew get aboard until after we've returned."
"I'll make his instructions clear on that point," nodded Tom.
"That is all, then. Let me know when the tender returns."
"Hold on, a moment, Baldwin," interposed Mr. Ross.
"Well?"