“Where’s Sanford?” he asked, rather timidly.
“On deck.”
“He’ll kill me.”
“Nonsense! We will take care of you against any odds,” said the cashier, laughing heartily at the fears of the waif. “They have only just ascertained where they are. Come up, Ole.”
Thus assured, the young Norwegian climbed up the ladder, much to the satisfaction of the sailors. Burchmore was too well pleased with the trick he had played upon the conspirators to confine the knowledge of it to Churchill and himself, and had explained it to all who were not actually in the confidence of the coxswain. A majority of the party were thus arrayed on his side, though two or three of them would as readily have chosen the other side. The cashier was evidently the safer leader.
“Sanford and that Englishman will pound me for the trick,” repeated Ole, as he glanced at the quarter-deck, where his victims were considering the situation.
“No, they won’t; we are able and willing to protect you,” replied Burchmore. “Come, we will go aft, and hear what they have to say.”
The cashier led the way, and the waif reluctantly followed him.
“I believe you wanted to see Ole,” said Burchmore, who could hardly look sober, he was so pleased with the result of his operations.
“Yes; I did wish to see him,” answered Sanford, rather coldly. “I will see him some other time.”