“Don’t try to get out any guns!” the man ordered. “Get back to the Hawk and stay there!”
“What right have you to take that boat?” demanded the mate.
“No words, now!” Mike shouted. “Get back to the Hawk!”
“We’ll sink you if you move away from here!” shouted the mate.
“You’ll do lot’s of sinking, with Government boats patrolling the river!” mocked Mike. “You’d get pinched in half an hour.”
“How do you expect to get away with that boat?” demanded the mate.
“Why, we’ve got one of the owners on board,” Mike laughed back, “and he’ll tell the Government officers anything we ask him to.”
“And look here, Mr. River Thief!” Gid joined in, “if you make any noise about the taking of this boat, or try to make trouble for us, or open your mouths to the river police, we’ll give the Hawk away good and plenty. Every murder and every dirty game that’s been played on board will be in the Government’s books within twenty-four hours.”
Slowly, sullenly, the mate turned the boat around and headed for the Hawk, glancing back over his shoulders with angry eyes as he did so. Hoots of derision came to him from the deck of the Hawk as he returned. It was quite evident that those on board the Hawk knew what had taken place.
“Look here, kid!” Gid said to Jule as the boat turned back, “get down there and loosen the anchor-chain. We must be getting out of this and we haven’t got time to hoist her up!”