“And we are going to run across with four men on board who are perfect strangers, except that we know one told an absolute lie for the purpose of preventing you from sending any word to your parents!” Ned exclaimed as he literally threw himself into a chair and stared moodily at the floor.
“I wasn’t consulted in the matter at all,” Vance said angrily. “I told Roy I thought he should wait till you came aboard.”
“I surely asked your opinion about taking Manuel as interpreter,” Roy said sharply.
“Yes; but that was after you had made the trade with the others, and they virtually had possession of the yacht.”
“Well, it can’t be helped now, and we must decide what may be done to prevent them from taking us by surprise,” Ned said with a long-drawn sigh.
He fancied he knew exactly how Roy felt when he made the bargain, and that it had only been done from a desire to be with his parents as soon as possible, therefore it did not seem to him right that the boy should be blamed.
“Why can’t it be helped?” Vance cried sharply. “What is to prevent us from ordering them to put back?”
“If they have come on board with any idea of taking possession of the steamer, they wouldn’t obey the command and we should only succeed in starting a row before being prepared.”
“I’ll soon know what they mean!” Roy said angrily as he went toward the companion-way.
“Wait a minute!” Ned cried as he caught him by the arm. “Don’t act as hastily as you did before, but think the matter over first. Suppose they refuse to obey orders, what can we do before mapping out a plan?”