"Just that!" said the Colonel. "We have had a scene, I can tell you. If one of you will order a cup of coffee for me I will tell you all about it." He leaned back and closed his eyes. Beany made for the door; and Porky sat in silence until his brother returned with a tray of coffee, toast and bacon.
Then while the Colonel ate, they busied themselves about one thing and another around the cabin, until at last the Colonel set down the empty coffee cup, and spoke.
"I often wonder," he said, "how you boys learned some of the great truths that you know."
Porky laughed. "Like not talking when you ate?" he asked. "That was Mom. She always says that you can't expect to learn anything from a hungry man."
"A very wise woman," the Colonel said. "She is perfectly right."
He looked at his watch.
"There is a little time, and while I smoke I will tell you all about the little fuss we have just finished. Yes, boys, the man you saw killed was the second mate of this ship, and a spy; a miserable spy. No use wasting pity on him; he got what he deserved."
The Colonel scowled.
CHAPTER XVI
SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE
Porky and Beany sat perfectly still, staring with round, bulging eyes at the Colonel. They did not speak. They just sat there and thought and stared, and stared and thought again. This was about the most stunning blow of all. They had known the mate throughout the voyage as a silent, kindly man who had treated them well but had not made the least impression on them otherwise. A spy! It couldn't be! Porky was conscious of a wave of horror as he told himself that there must be some mistake. Not the second mate! Such a nice man, always pottering about, always ready to answer questions, always interested in everything, always and forever asking questions himself, wanting to know everything about themselves and their home and their plans for the future.