“Yes, sir, and a greater blackguard never drew breath. But I’ll tell you all about him and his companion Harkins at some other time. There is something in this I don’t understand, sir.”
“Well, the first step in the way of an understanding will be to get these boxes open!” exclaimed the midshipman.
“Hey, hombre!” he went on, “have you got a hatchet there?”
“Si, senor.”
“Hand it over then, quick—ah, that’s it! Now we shan’t be long.”
With a quick stroke the middy ripped the covering boards off one of the cases and pulled out a handful of excelsior, and tore off some sacking. Snugly packed within were the parts of numerous rapid-fire guns.
“Hooray! we were right after all!” he exclaimed. “This is a find, and no mistake. Why, these guns would be almost worth their weight in gold to those fellows in their attack on Boca del Sierras.”
Suddenly out of the darkness came a sharp hail.
“Boat ahoy!”
“Ay, ay, sir!” hailed the midshipman. “It’s Lieutenant Timmons’ voice!” he exclaimed, in an undertone.