Crawford came closer to Carter and thrust his arm through that of the detective.
“That may be,” he said, “but I can’t forget that he’s also the man who once saved my life, who has shared his last crust with me again and again.”
Then, as an exclamation of impatience broke from Nick’s lips, the miner went on:
“Oh, yes, I know that you think me a fool. You will think me even a greater when I tell you that this is not the first time. He has tried to do the same thing on this very voyage—to say nothing of an attempt before we left South America.”
CHAPTER VI.
THE LOVE OF COMRADES.
“Good heavens!” Nick Carter broke out. “Do you actually mean to tell me that he has attacked you before?”
“I do,” the deep voice replied. “He tried to shoot me from ambush a week or so before we left Brazil, and just prior to our arrival at Kingston he made another attempt. He was not nearly so successful that time, though. I managed to overpower him.”
They were pacing along the dark deck now, and Nick heard the man by his side draw a deep breath.