The boy edged farther along, and Clay heard him snickering as he brought out the kodak and waited for the right moment to come. Clay became impatient, presently, and advanced toward him.
“Get back!” Alex whispered, almost in his ear, as he pushed against him. “I had eight films in and I’ve used ’em all. And there’s a giant of a man coming out this way. Get back! Take a tumble in some hole in the ground! I guess he saw me!”
CHAPTER IV.—A NEW FACE ON THE RAMBLER.
When the prow lamp of the Rambler, in response to the turning of the switch by the excited boy, flared out, Case saw a slender figure standing close to the cabin door, which was closed. The lad’s first impulse was to fire at the intruder, but the figure looked so shrinking, so lacking in aggressiveness, the face showing under a man’s slouch hat was so white, so appealing, that he lowered his weapon and called out:
“What are you doing here?”
There was no verbal answer, but the boy, for such the intruder appeared to be, began slowly backing away, toward the railing of the boat.
“Stand where you are!” ordered Case, presenting his weapon again. “I want to know something about this. Look up here!”
The other’s eyes, shrinking and afraid, looked for a moment into those above the threatening revolver and then dropped.
“Where did you come from?” was the next question. “What are you doing on board the Rambler? Why do you come sneaking up?”
Case thought he saw a quick start at the mention of the name of the boat, but still there was no reply.