“That that fellow was there for no good purpose. He was crouching down to hear what we had to say. He must have come up softly after we were seated.”
“Well, he didn’t hear anything that was very important.”
“No,” admitted Ned, “unless——”
“Well, unless what? You’re the most suspicious chap I ever saw.”
“I was going to say that I am almost positive that that fellow was the fireman we noticed eying us so curiously the day we left the yard.”
“Even so. Aren’t you making a mountain out of a mole hill, or a battleship out of a dinghy?”
“I’m not so sure of that,” responded Ned slowly, and with an air of thoughtfulness, “something about that chap roused my suspicions that he was watching us for no good purpose.”
“Well, there wasn’t much nourishment in what we said, even if he is what you suspect him to be.”
“Humph! he heard that we are to be Midshipman Stark’s assistants in secret duty, didn’t he?”