“I saw that steamer go out, but I didn’t think the cutter’s crew were in her. I’m sorry I didn’t know it before,” said Peaks, chagrined by this tardy discovery. “How many were there of them?”
“Ten.”
“That couldn’t be; there were only nine of the crew.”
“There was more as ten, but one of them went away.”
“I went away,” said Clyde.
“You! Were you with them?” demanded Peaks.
“I was.”
“Why didn’t you say so before?”
“You didn’t ask me; and as you were not remarkably civil to me, I didn’t feel obliged to tell you the news.”
“But there were not ten of them.”