"Yes; pretty nigh the northern point of the shoal."
"Then we're not more than three days' sail from Nassau?"
"About that; but you can't get in without a pilot, an' it ain't much further to some port in the United States."
To this Bob made no reply, but turned as if to leave the cabin when the Mexican stopped him by asking:
"Will you say whether we are to be given a passage, or must we go ashore to starve?"
"I'll talk the matter over with Joe. If he's agreed I won't say a word ag'in it, though I'd much rather take the brig in alone." And then Bob hurried up the companion-ladder, as if eager to escape from his guests.
When the three men were alone their entire bearing changed, and the one with a red nose said in a whisper, as he shook his fist threateningly in the direction Bob had vanished:
"We'll whine 'round only till the brig's afloat, an' then if we can't get away in her, leavin' that crowd behind, we deserve to stay!"
"And when we do have a craft of our own we'll pay off some old scores to that meddlin' fool who broke up our little game in Nassau!" the thin man added.
"It will be well if we do not show our hand too quickly," the Mexican said. "Without even so much as a revolver, we cannot hold possession in case they should decide to set us ashore."