CHAPTER XVI
THE ACCUSATION
"What's this?" demanded Captain Brisco, coming on deck just then. "What's up?"
"Sail ho!" repeated Jack Jepson. "Over there, Captain!" and he pointed, and extended the telescope. Alice noticed that the hand of the old salt trembled, though usually he was as steady as the proverbial surgeon.
"Hum! Yes. One of the English revenue ships," remarked Captain Brisco. "It's the first one we've met down here."
"It is a British vessel, isn't it?" asked Jack Jepson, and there was a queer strain in his voice.
"Yes," replied his superior. "What of it?"
"Oh, nothin' sir! Nothin'."
But Alice thought it was something.