“Who, besides yourselves, is aware of this affair?”
“Not a soul in the world, save the people aboard this yacht—and aboard the pirate, of course.”
“Then,” said Nick slowly and emphatically, “not a soul save yourselves must ever know about it.”
“Just my own idea,” said Kane.
“It is for her sake,” continued Nick Carter. “Ladies, when you go ashore, you must say not a thing about this sad occurrence. Give out—if you must make any explanation at all—that Miss Harlan has remained at Bermuda, or that you have dropped her somewhere on the route homeward. For her own sake her present predicament must never be known.”
“We realize that fully,” said Mrs. Kane.
“Can you keep your crew from talking about the pirate?” asked Nick, of Max.
“You bet I can.”
“Then see that you do so.”
“But Mr. Carter,” asked the mother, “can you not give us some hope of her rescue?”