“So did I. That means there is some one out there listening to see how we are taking it. Let’s give the door a good pounding. Maybe we can make them give some explanation.”
The idea was voted a good one. The two lads shook and banged on the door with all the vigor they possessed.
They were rewarded by hearing a gruff voice growl out:
“Ain’t a bit of use your shaking that door. It’ll hold till we get good and ready to open it.”
“That’s Captain Lawless,” declared the professor.
He raised his voice.
“What do you mean by this outrage?” he loudly demanded.
“Now, perfusser, don’t get hot in the collar,” was the rough advice hurled back at him. “I knows what I’m doin’. You don’t think that I’m goin’ to stand trial before a maritime court just on your account, do you?”
“You precious rascal!” hailed Mr. Tubbs. “I’d like to have my hands on you for about five minutes.”
No rejoinder came this time. Evidently the skipper was not in a mood to bandy words. As a matter of fact, he was half beginning to regret his action in imprisoning the adventurers. To use the vernacular, he was rather apprehensive that he had “bitten off more than he could chew.”