But Madeline would not be denied. She accompanied the captain and Mr. Cumberford to the deck.
Just beside the yacht floated the little rowboat which had been brought from Ramon's island, and in it sat Ramon himself, all alone, holding aloft a handkerchief attached as a flag to a boat-hook.
As they peered over the side at him he bowed profoundly and removed his hat to Miss Dentry. He was still clothed in his white flannels and his fingers glittered with jewels.
"What do you want?" demanded Mr. Cumberford sharply.
"The pleasure of conversing with you, señor," was the confident reply. "If you will kindly let down your ladder I will come on board. You see, myself I place in your power. We have, I much regret, some slight misunderstanding between us, which a few words will assuredly correct."
"Don't let him up, sir," advised Captain Krell, in a low voice.
"But he is unarmed," said Madeline. "I think it will be best to confer with him."
"Then do it from a distance," grumbled the captain.
"Sir," called Mr. Cumberford, "if you have any apologies to make, you may speak from where you are."