The girl was assisted up the ladder by the strong arm of an ensign who wore a gold-braided cap and greasy dungarees. Fay followed her. They stood clutching the hand-rail which rose from well-scoured duck-boards on the starboard waist.
“Remember, Chester,� said Saidee Isaacs as MacKeenon scrambled out of the small-boat. “Remember, we’ll say nothing until we see Sir Richard. He’s more of a man than MacKeenon.�
“They’re all the same,� said Fay, bitterly.
CHAPTER XIV
THE HOUSE OF THE LIONS
However much Fay had expected the brig and irons, he was mistaken in both surmises.
The lieutenant-commander of the destroyer and MacKeenon were openly solicitous regarding their captives’ welfare. The cabin assigned to Saidee Isaacs was just off the ward-room. It had been used by an Admiral during the years of the war. It was fitted with the simple, serviceable things which are found on all his Majesty’s better ships—running hot and cold water in bath and wash-stand—a bed instead of a bunk—white walls and cork-tiled deck.
Fay was shown an ensign’s cabin which had recently been vacated. He turned as he felt the powerful throbbing of the giant engines of the destroyer. MacKeenon stood in the doorway with his legs braced across the alley-way. The Scotch detective smiled dryly and regarded the pockets of Fay’s overcoat with concern.
“A hae no doot,� he said, “that ye are armed. Mind passing over any wicked thing in that direction? There’s much powder about.�
Fay dipped his right hand into his pocket and passed to MacKeenon the little silver-plated revolver which Saidee Isaacs had given to him. The inspector snapped
it open and dropped the cartridges into the palm of his right hand. “A better keep these,� he suggested. “Any more, Chester?�