Madeline drew a long breath.
"I'm sorry for that," she said. "Ramon Ganza has escaped the penalty of breaking his country's laws and we are powerless to punish him ourselves—even though he struck poor Mason with a knife."
"How is Mason getting along?" asked Orissa.
"Very nicely," stated Mr. Cumberford. "It was a deep cut, but reached no vital organs and the man will soon be as good as new."
"That does not alter the fact that Ganza is a wicked desperado," said Sybil.
"It's a shame to allow him to escape," exclaimed Mr. Tupper, indignantly. "Can't we arrest him for disturbing the peace, and trying to capture our yacht, and attempting to murder one of the crew?"
"No," replied Mr. Cumberford. "This island doesn't belong to the United States. I believe it is Mexican territory. But if we can prove damages we might be able to recover from the Mexican government—and then, again, we might not."
"I'll never put in a claim, for my part," said Madeline, laughing. "But what are we to do with Ramon Ganza—and those three rascals imprisoned with him, whom Chesty captured and brought to us?"
"Let Chesty get rid of them; they're his prisoners," suggested Sybil.
"The chief bandit is your own prisoner—and Orissa's," declared Chesty. "What do you intend to do with him, Miss Cumberford?"