“See those?� he asked, and pointed to three bright brass cannons that were ranged at the stern inside closed ports. “We use those in our trading. You see we are what the courts of law and the international boundary authorities call: ‘seal poachers.’�
“Seal poachers!� Raynor shrank back. He had heard of these wild, lawless men of the north who defied the international boundary rules and even war-ships sent to enforce them. Not a few of them, as he knew, had been captured after hard chases and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment. He could hardly bring himself to speak his next words.
“But of course you will put me on board the first vessel we sight,â€� he said, “you see, Captain Carson, I——â€�
“Oh, no, we can’t lose you now,� chuckled the yellow-bearded man, “you know too much. We need an assistant cook and I think you are just the man for the job.�
“Do you mean to say that, against my will, and against the law——â€� began Raynor, but Terror Carson checked him.
“You forget we know no law,� he said.
“Well, then, against my will you mean to enroll me as one of this lawless crew.�
“That’s about the idea,� drawled Carson amiably.
“But if we are caught by some British cruiser, I shall be imprisoned as one of you!� burst out Raynor frantically.
“That’s something you will have to take your chances of. You shouldn’t have fallen overboard from the Cambodian and then this wouldn’t have happened. You see I know some of your story and have guessed the rest.