Archie took one thumb out of the armhole of his vest long enough to wave his hand toward the man on the opposite side of the table, and then put it back again.
“You will know all about it in good time,” said the man, cheerfully; “and until we want you, you had better stay in there and behave yourself.”
“You have taken the schooner, have you?”
“That’s the way it looks to us out here. How does it look to you in there?”
While Frank was wondering how he should answer this question, the door opened, and Waters, the convict, and Fowler, the consul’s clerk, came into the cabin.
CHAPTER VIII.
ON THE QUARTER-DECK AGAIN.
Up to this time Frank had been all in the dark, and utterly at a loss to find any explanation for the situation of affairs; but at the sight of these two worthies a sudden light broke in upon him.
“Everything is clear to me now,” thought he. “I know why Fowler had so many questions to ask concerning the contents of Uncle Dick’s strong box, and why he was so particular to inquire into my abilities as a navigator. He is the one we have to thank for this trouble. He is hale fellow well met with these convicts, has assisted them to escape, and expects to get a large share of the money in the safe. Our voyage around the world ends right here, and I am in a lovely scrape besides. These fellows expect me to take them to San Francisco. After I get there what shall I do with the schooner? What will become of Uncle Dick and the rest in the meantime?”
While Frank was turning these knotty questions over in his mind, Fowler and his companion came into the cabin, and closed the door behind them. “Well, Waters, you are off for America once more,” said the consul’s clerk, “and this time I think you are all right. I can’t see what drawbacks you are going to have. There was no war vessel in the harbor when we left.”
“But there was one at Melbourne,” replied Waters, “and it’ll not take long for the commissioners to set her on our track. We must depend on our captain to keep us clear of her. I’m sorry you are here, Archie.”