He felt that Malvin meant what he said. And he was in the fellow’s power absolutely.
“Yes,” spoke Malvin. “I mean to use this little piece of hardware unless——”
He paused as if uncertain of his next words.
“He’s nervous,” thought Ralph, “he doesn’t like this job. He’s doing it at the orders of somebody else, probably Hawke, who appears to exercise an influence over him.”
“Well, unless?” asked the boy aloud.
“Unless you obey orders absolutely. Just as I have had to obey your orders since you sneaked your way into command of this craft.”
“You forget that this is my father’s boat,” reminded Ralph.
“Yes, your father,” sneered Malvin. “Your father, who is in jail in Montreal!”
“So you know that?” cried Ralph, startled out of his assumed calm.
“Know it? Why, yes. Men with whom I am associated engineered his arrest. Cleverly done, wasn’t it?”