“Is the boat ready?” asked Nick, stepping up to Lawton.
“I’ll have it ready in a brace of shakes.”
The captain turned to give an order to Clegg, who passed it forward, and the activity of half a dozen sailors gave promise that the boat would be at the ladder in a few moments.
“I am going ashore—with Mr.—er—Miles,” announced Nick carelessly.
“Well, I don’t know about that,” hesitated the captain. “I don’t feel as if this passenger ought to go without something more being known about him. I believe you are really Nicholas Carter, and that the other detective is a fraud. Still, if he should turn out to be the genuine article, where would I be?”
“He is not the genuine article,” returned Nick. “So you need not speculate on that.”
“But, if he should be, you see, I’d be on the rocks—piled up, with my back broke and out of the game for good.”
Captain Lawton shook his head with an air of ponderous wisdom that tried Nick Carter’s patience sorely.
“You have my word that he’s a fraud,” the detective reminded him sternly. “I thought that would be enough. If you like, I’ll sign a paper taking all the responsibility. Only, let’s have that boat!”
“Well, all right! Let it go at that!” grumbled the captain; “I guess I’m going to get the worst of it. I always do. Boat, there!”