“We bane gone ashore, sare?” he asked.
“Yes, we’ve grounded, Hansen, and I must tell you that your wretch of a master Hawke, while crazed with fright, threw himself overboard. I fear he is lost forever.”
The Norwegian appeared dazed. His fishy blue eyes rolled wildly.
“La Rue bane dade?” he muttered.
“I don’t know anything about La Rue,” said Ralph, thinking the man had not rightly understood him, “I said Hawke had gone. He jumped overboard when we struck. Crazy from fright, I guess.”
“He bane all de same,” said the Norwegian calmly. “Hawke bane La Rue, La Rue bane Hawke. I bane glad he gone.”
“Glad, why?” exclaimed Ralph, horrified at the man’s callousness.
“He bane bad man. He say if I don’t do as he say he lose me mine yob. By yiminy, I got wife and childrens by mine home in Norvay. I no vant lose yob. So I do as he say.”
“What did he make you do?” asked Ralph, too interested for the minute to remember anything but what the man was saying.
“He bane make me take package off motor boat what come by Daxter Island by night. I have to give package to Malvin. Dey say dey bane smoggler and kill me if I talk.”