“That he did!” cried Hartley; “that is just like old Parker.”
They discussed the matter, angrily. The Aurelian was already half a mile away.
That she meant to recover the Veneta’s treasure if possible before the Dolphin was a certainty. The thought angered Frank.
“I see the whole cowardly game!” he cried angrily. “And they shall pay for it well. They shall never carry home one penny of the Veneta’s gold!”
“But what could we do against them?” asked Hartley; “their ship is larger than ours.”
“You forget,” replied Frank, “the torpedo boat is the most deadly craft in the U.S. navy. We can attack her on the same scale.”
“You are right,” cried the captain. “We surely need fear nothing from her. We could sail under her if we chose and sink her.”
“Just so,” said Frank. “At least I will give them a good lesson.”
He sprang into the pilot-house. He was about to give chase to the Aurelian, when a warning cry came from Barney, who had just come up from the engine-room.
“Shure, sor,” he said, “there’s bad luck to pay!”