"I have not the remotest idea; but he is a law-and-order man in the highest meaning of the phrase; and he is not inclined to let the guilty escape unpunished. You committed a piratical act upon us, and you may be sure he will not wink at it. I had the idea at first of taking you into the port of Algeciras and of handing you over to the police or custom-house officers; but it was too much bother, and I was afraid they would keep us there all night."
"I am very glad you did not."
The sound of the gong terminated the conversation, and Louis hastened to the standing-room to be in readiness to heave the line on board of the ship. But he found that the Guardian-Mother was still at some distance from the little steamer.
"You can heave this line, Flix, when we get alongside," said he. "I have had a talk with Gray, and he don't feel good at all."
"He has no right to feel good, the blackguard! He is not a bit better than a pirate," replied Felix. "I have kept watch of Captain Velazquizzer, and whenever he showed his head, I put a ball into the foremast. He hasn't cut the tow-line yet."
"I see he has not; but stand by to heave the line," said Louis as he went forward.
He found Morris stationed in the gangway within easy hail of the pilot-house, and Scott stated that he had placed him there to notify him if the Golondrina came too near the steamer as he slowed down.
"I am trying to get the headway out of the tow so that she shall not foul our stern," said the pilot when Louis showed himself at the door. "But you had better stay in the standing-room, Captain Belgrave, for the captain may try to leap on board of us. If he chooses to use his cuchillo, he can make a lot of mischief in a very short time. If necessary, I will go aft and lasso him; for I don't think he can stand that sort of thing any better than Gray did."
"He has kept out of sight since we began to fire revolvers in the air, and as he knows that we have fire-arms, I don't believe he will give us any trouble," answered Louis.
"But keep watch of him, though he seems to be afraid of powder and ball," added Scott; and the leader went aft.