He got up and bent over Jason.
“He won’t die!” he decided calmly, as he might have expressed judgment on a half-drowned kitten. “That cuff on the side of his head will be a useful warning to him not to be insolent another time. Come on, Solado! Let’s go and see how they get Marcos away.”
“Wait a moment!” objected Solado. “They can attend to him, without us. Here are some letters that came for Marcos from Joyalita. We’d better look them over and see what is to be done with them. There is a large part of the population on Marcos’ side, you know, and we can’t take any chances on rebellion, you know.”
Nick Carter remained long enough to see the two plotters put their heads together over a bundle of letters on the table. Then he withdrew, closed the door softly, and rejoined Patsy.
In two minutes more both were at the bottom of the chute, while Patsy untied the boat.
“I’m glad it is dark, Patsy!” whispered Nick Carter. “They are taking Marcos away in that boat, and we have to stop them, if we can. If not, we must trail them till we can get help to take them in.”
“We don’t need help,” snapped Patsy Garvan. “There’s only three of them, and if we have this Marcos to help us, there’ll be three on our side. Why, I am almost ashamed to do it. It’s too easy! Are we to shoot?”
“If we can’t nail them any other way. Have you got handcuffs in your pocket, Patsy?”
“Two pairs! I figured we’d need them, even if you have a pair——”
“Which I have,” interjected Nick. “I’ll row. Get into the bow, with your gun in your hand. As soon as you get where you can make a grab at their boat, cover the nearest man, and I’ll do the same with the next. Then make a jump.”