"Make this boat your headquarters. Do not leave here until I return, Mr. Overton."
"Very good, sir."
"It was a pretty slick way that you caught us," began the mate, lounging near Hal as he stood on deck.
"Then you admit that this boat was engaged in an attempt at smuggling arms over the border?" demanded the young lieutenant, wheeling quickly.
"What's the use of denying it," questioned the mate, "with such cargo as we have?"
"Very little use indeed," Hal rejoined. "How much were you to get as your share of the night's work?"
"Oho! I didn't say that I had even a suspicion of what the game was," retorted the mate coolly. "I could only suspect, at best. You can't trap me into saying anything that would send me along to share Captain Boggs's fate."
"You're smooth enough," nodded Lieutenant Overton, "but don't try to play any further tricks."
"With United States troops aboard? What do you take me for?" grumbled the mate.
Hal didn't feel much inclined to talk with the fellow, so he stepped forward, leaving the mate by himself.