Producing a roll of money from an inner pocket, Halstead counted out eighty-eight dollars, which he handed to the owner.
"You may refuse, now, but I shall be even with you later," remarked Joseph Baldwin. "And now, Captain, as soon as you can, after the crew comes aboard, I want you to put out to sea. I'll give you more explicit orders as soon as we're seven or eight miles west of the coast."
"Very good, sir," replied Captain Tom, saluting as the owner turned to leave the captain's cabin.
"You've been running into a bit more excitement, have you?" queried Joe, smiling.
"A bit," laughed Halstead. Dawson asked no further questions.
At a few minutes after midnight Mr. Costigan returned with his shore party.
"It's your watch below, Mr. Costigan, until eight o'clock in the morning," First Officer Ab Perkins informed the third officer. "When you are called to turn out we'll be at sea."
"Very good, sir," replied Costigan, and went below to seek his berth. Neither the third officer nor any of the crew had any suspicion that anything unusual had happened this evening.
"Where's Mr. Costigan?" inquired Captain Halstead, coming forward.
"Gone below to sleep, sir," Ab replied.