The Conway family, under guard, left the salon. Baron von Hiemskirk beckoned to Bill and Osceola who had been silent witnesses of this charming scene.
“I have to report, sir,” said Bill at once, “that the supplies have been placed aboard the Flying Fish and the lifeboats. They are now ready for transport to the Amtonia.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bolton, and you, too, Chief. I was certain that I could trust you with the job. That was a good idea to use the lifeboats. If a heavy sea had been running the greater part of the stuff must have been left behind.”
“I should think,” said Osceola, “that you would have brought up the Amtonia and placed the stuff aboard her direct.”
The Baron smiled goodhumoredly. “Mr. Bolton can you tell him my reason for not doing so? I am not really a blood-thirsty person by nature, Chief.”
“Baron von Hiemskirk does not wish vessels like the Orleans to know that the Amtonia is in his service, Osceola.”
“But what has bloodthirstiness got to do with it, if I may ask?”
Bill answered this too. “I suppose the Baron feels it would be necessary to sink such vessels whose crews or passengers guess his secret. Am I right, Sir?”
“Quite, Mr. Bolton. That warship, for instance, will arrive here in an hour or so. All that she can learn from those left aboard this ship is that the Flying Fish and the Orleans boats have departed in such and such a direction—which, of course, will not be the one they will eventually take.”
“But won’t they wireless that news to the Stamford just as soon as we leave the ship?” inquired the Chief.