CHAPTER IX
A Puzzling Situation
On hearing her son’s story, Mrs. Burton hastened to her stateroom, entering with Guy through his room. But nothing of hers appeared to have been stolen. However, she was certain that her steamer trunk had been opened, although she found it locked. The contents were not in the order she had left them. Then Guy tried the door of his mother’s room, but it also was locked.
“I’m sure the fellow was Watson, or Lantry,” Guy declared after they had convinced themselves that nothing had been stolen.
“Who are Watson and Lantry?” his mother inquired.
“I forgot you didn’t know. I didn’t tell you what Mr. Gunseyt told me about one of the passengers. That passenger calls himself Watson, but Mr. Gunseyt says his name is Lantry and he used to be a fog pirate.”
“What is a fog pirate?”
Guy told his mother all that the “radio passenger” had told him in this relation and then added:
“I’m certain that Watson, or Lantry, is the man who entered our rooms. I didn’t get a good look at his face, but I know his form so well I don’t believe I could be mistaken.”
Guy decided that a complaint ought to be made for the protection of the other passengers, as well as themselves; so he sought out the second mate and related the affair to him. The officer listened attentively, asked several questions, and then assured the boy that the matter would be looked into.
An hour later Guy found Mr. Gunseyt in a smoking room and told him what had occurred. The latter was not easily surprised but he showed considerable interest in this affair.