"I keep a civil tongue, as you call it, for those I consider my equals and superiors," said Tom; "neither of you come in that class."
"So-o, my young fighting cock," whistled Dampier softly, "I reckon we'll have to clip your wings a bit. Aren't you grateful to us for pulling you out of the water when all your friends drowned?"
From what he had overheard of the men's conversation, Tom knew that this latter statement was an untrue one. However, he did not contradict it.
"You mean that the Sea Ranger is sunk!" he exclaimed, in a voice into which he managed to put a good deal of shocked amazement.
"That's right," said Walstein, rubbing his hands. "We ran into her and sank her last night, and saved you."
"I'm surprised at that," declared Tom. "I recollect your saying before you were sent to prison for your actions in the tropics, that you'd like to wring all our necks."
"Well, it suited us to save you, anyhow," retorted Walstein. "Where were you going in that craft?"
"That can't matter much to you since she is sunk," parried Tom. "The question is, what are you going to do with me?"
Dampier grinned unwholesomely.
"Oh, it's really too early to tell you that yet," he said, "but before you get free again, we mean to have back a good part of that treasure you and your uncle robbed us of."