Tommy was doing his best to scold the intruder away, while Captain Joe was exerting himself to get away from Clay, who had him by the scruff of the neck.
“Giving a party?” asked Alex.
“Yes,” Buck replied, “and it’s likely to be a necktie party before it’s over. The Esmeralda looks right pert with all those people on board! I suppose we’ll have to wade in blood to get out of this hole they’ve got us into!”
“The Esmeralda is stopping,” said Case. “I wonder what’s next on their program?”
A hail now came from the boat.
“Hello!” the voice said.
“Hello yourself!” came the reply.
“What you doing with that boat?”
The answer was a baying of the dog and another scream from the parrot. The hailing party consulted together for a second and then called out:
“Guess you’ll have to submit to capture, boys.”