It was a breach of discipline to say as much as this, but he knew that the mate felt kindly toward him and toward Guy.
“Heaven only knows,” replied the mate, in a low voice. “I have done the best I could to prevent him, but the captain won’t hear a word.”
“They will die!” said Frank, in a faltering voice.
“Not a word more now; the captain is coming!”
Captain Richmond came up, looking stern and forbidding, and watched with a lynx-like glance all that was going on.
The mate determined to make one more remonstrance.
“Captain Richmond,” he said, “does Guy Fenwick know of your intention of putting to sea?”
The captain looked as if he were about to indulge in a burst of furious anger, but he restrained himself, with a sudden thought.
“Yes,” he said, “he understands. We are coming back for him,” he added, after a pause.
Mr. Forbush looked skeptical. He did not believe a word of this.