“I’ll have those rascals in irons before we drop anchor!” he exclaimed. “We are nearing Southampton now and if that man had not met with his accident they might have landed and escaped scot free.”
Jack was weakened by his trying experience, but he was not too exhausted not to be able to accompany the officer to Radwig’s cabin. A knock on the door brought an immediate answer:
“Come in.”
“Keep back,” whispered the captain to Jack, “I want to see how far these rascals will incriminate themselves.”
Accordingly, Jack and the others kept out of sight as the door was opened and Captain Jameson stepped inside, but as the portal was left ajar, they could hear what went on within.
“You know my friend, Mr. Ewing,” said Radwig, in oily tones, indicating Schultz, who, it will be recalled, had adopted that alias, and who was seated in Radwig’s cabin engaged over a valise full of papers.
The captain bowed his acknowledgment of the introduction.
“And to what am I to attribute the honor of this visit?” said Radwig. “Possibly something connected with the formalities of landing? I am informed we shall be in harbor in a short time now.”
“That is correct,” said the captain bruskly, “and we shall land minus one of the ship’s company.”
“You mean poor young Ready, the wireless operator,” said Radwig. “It was too bad about that unfortunate lad. If my friend and myself had been a few seconds earlier we might have saved him before he went overboard.”