Inez sprang forward and began to speak rapidly in Spanish. Cora, who had managed to pick up a few words, understood that Inez was making a spirited demand for the papers which she accused the fat man of having taken from her room. Over and over again she insisted on receiving them—here, now, at once, without delay!
So insistent was she that it looked, as though she meant to make a personal assault on-Senor Ramo, and take the papers from his ill-fitting frock coat.
"Whew!" whistled Walter, "that's going some, isn't it?"
"Walter! How can you?" remonstrated Cora. "At such a time, too!"
"Just can't help it!" he murmured. "He's getting his deserts all right."
Senor Ramo fairly backed away from the excited Inez, but she followed him to the very rail, where, as he could go no further, he made a stand, and continued to listen to her voluble talk.
"She certainly has some spirit," murmured lieutenant Walling to Cora. "Is that the fellow she suspects?" he asked, for he had been told the story of Inez.
"Yes," answered Cora. "But is my mother aboard? And Mr. and Mrs.
Robinson?"
"They're not!" broke in Jack. "These scoundrels have put them ashore—somewhere!"
"Oh!" cried Bess and Belle in chorus.