Heavy silence followed his words. One of the crew returned from the vault room. He announced to the captain that the C-49's shipment of platinum was intact as they had left it. Captain Cragley turned the matter over in his mind. He was an astute man. Having smelled out a conspiracy, he was planning the best way he knew to thwart it. The platinum itself presented an obvious motive. Finally he spoke.
"You passengers are to go up into the observation room and wait for us. Under no condition are you to leave the room and wander about the ship."
Captain Cragley's orders were obeyed to the letter.
In the observation chamber, Brady asked my opinion of the discovery Captain Cragley had made. "What's up, anyways?"
I shook my head. Brady was plainly nervous. Others of the passengers who had accompanied us shared his apprehension. Fully a half hour had passed and still Cragley and his men put in no appearance. Outside, myriads of life flew, crawled and swam about the damaged craft.
Presently, Cragley and his three men emerged from the lower levels of the C-49. They presented an uncouth spectacle bedraggled as they were with grime and dirty water. In their arms they carried many small boxes. Though small, each box was extremely heavy, being loaded with a fortune in platinum bars.
"We'll return to the cylinder," said Cragley. "There's important work to be done."
Once more we trudged back through the swamp and jungle, following the trail we had made. Several times, huge shadowy forms flapped on the wing overhead, but there was no attack. Back at the cylinder, Captain Cragley ordered every man out into the open. He drew their attention.
"There's serious business here," he said slowly, his eyes darting from face to face. "I want the man, or men who wrecked the C-49!"