Nick Carter was pleased with Harvey L. Drago. He liked a man who was not easily discouraged, and it was evident that Drago was as full of fight as if he had never been beaten.
Nick drew his jackknife from his pocket, and severed Drago’s bonds with a series of quick slashes.
In the darkness his movements were not noticed by the sailors.
The prisoners were in the fore part of the boat, for one thing, so that the rowers’ backs were toward them.
Kennedy and the other men were in the stern, and it would not have been easy for them to discern the doings of the prisoners, even in daylight. Now, with the moon gone, and only stars to light up the wide bay and boat, there was hardly any possibility.
“Say! I heard those fellows speak of you as Nick Carter,â€� whispered Drago. “Is that right? Are you the famous——â€�
“My name is Nick Carter,� interrupted the detective. “I am the detective. Are you game for a fight to get out of this?�
“Am I?� returned Drago, so emphatically that Nick[Pg 38] warned him not to speak above a low whisper. “You’ll see.�
“All right! But be careful. If it were not for the splashing of the water and the little noise the oars make, you would have been overheard already. I’ll give you the signal for action.�
“What are we going to do?�