CHAPTER XV
TO OBEY ORDERS, OR NOT?
PRIVATE Simms soon returned, bringing with him Check and Varnum and the two Mexican prisoners. The Mexicans were forced to join their kind in the cabin, and Hal had two more soldiers to back his authority.
"Simms, hurry back to camp, looking out for the noose on the way. Report to Captain Foster what you've seen here, and inform him, with my compliments, that I await his further commands. This boat will wait at some distance out in the stream."
Just before Hal gave these instructions, Captain Boggs had been directed to run his boat back against the pier. Simms, saluting, stepped ashore and went off at brisk stride.
"One bell ahead, Captain," ordered Lieutenant Hal, showing his face at the wheel-house window.
"I don't know whether I'll do that or not," growled Boggs, filling a short, black pipe and lighting the tobacco.
"You'll either obey orders, sir, or you'll go back into the cabin with the Mexicans, and let your mate run the boat. If your mate refuses he'll join in the cabin and I'll do the best I can with the boat myself. Now, sir, are you going to obey orders?"
"Where do you want to go?" growled the riverman.
"One bell ahead."