"I think I may count on your standing by me—eh, my lads?" he asked.
Yes, the young men answered; they would stand by him to the death. Their spirits seemed to rise with the thought of danger, especially as Mr. Carter hinted at a possible reward for each of them if they should assist in the capture of the runaway. They rowed close under the side of the black and wicked-looking vessel, and then Mr. Carter, standing up in the boat gave a "Yo-ho! aboard there!" that resounded over the great expanse of plashing water.
A man with a pipe in his mouth looked over the side.
"Hilloa! what's the row there?" he demanded fiercely.
"I want to see the captain."
"What do you want with him?"
"That's my business."
Another man, with a dingy face, and another pipe in his mouth, looked over the side, and took his pipe from between his lips, to address the detective.
"What the —— do you mean by coming alongside us?" he cried. "Get out of the way, or we shall run you down."
"Oh, no, you won't, Mr. Spelsand," answered one of the young men from the boat; "you'll think twice before you turn rusty with us. Don't you remember the time you tried to get off John Bowman, the clerk that robbed the Yorkshire Union Assurance Office—don't you remember trying to get him off clear, and gettin' into trouble yourself about it?"