“Two are cruising and one is at my stronghold.”
“Tell me where your retreat is.”
“A few miles from Santa Anna.”
“Many men there?”
“Over fifty, and the wives of all hands.”
Frank questioned him further, and learned a great many points about the pirates.
He realized several times that the captain lied and evaded his questions, but, upon the whole, he had learned nearly all he wanted to know.
In conclusion he asked the captain:
“How did you and your men happen to find this machine?”
“We were passing here by chance on our way to our settlement, when we caught view of her, and came aboard.”