“What if they threw a bomb or something at us while we were chasing them?”
“No danger of that. I shouldn’t wonder, in fact, if we miss the craft altogether. Of one thing I’m glad, though, we are going to explore the mysteries of Windmill Island.”
“Umph! That’s a nice, cheerful job. We saw one explosion there. How do we know that there won’t be another? That fellow Rawson was thinking of making a mine with that dynamite that blew up when the hut caught fire. How do we know he mayn’t have some such cheerful little contrivance planted off the island that may blow us sky-high?”
Ralph lost all patience.
“Say, if you don’t stop croaking, I’ll ask the inspector to have you put ashore. Why, old man Whey is far more courageous than you are.”
Harry walked off with his hands in his pockets. He was indignant, but Ralph only smiled.
“He’ll be back in a while,” he said to himself, “and when he does come he’ll be ashamed of himself.”
He was right. Shortly after the customs inspectors boarded the boat and found the boys and old man Whey all ready for them, Harry stole up to Ralph.
“I hope we don’t sight that Artful Dodger,” said he, “but if we do, nothing will suit me but to bring her back with a double half-hitch in her nose.”
“I knew that was the way you’d feel about it, Harry,” said Ralph, and then turned to greet the customs inspectors.