CHAPTER XVI
THE STOWAWAYS
"LOOK here!" exclaimed Broadmayne, in a low voice, "are you game? Now's our chance."
He pointed to the Mendez Nunez.
"Steady on," replied Vyse cautiously. "Supposing we get on board without being spotted: what then? Can you speak Spanish; I can't. The blighters will take us for pirates—I don't blame them if they do—and there'd be a deuce of a rumpus before we could explain. They'd probably knife us out of hand."
The two chums were standing close to the poopladder while the plundering of the tanker was in progress. Their "passive resistance" was now tolerated without any interference on the part of the pirate captain. Provided they stood their trick in the ordinary work of the ship, they were not called upon to take any part in actual acts of piracy. They certainly earned their keep. Captain Cain had not to pay them. On the other hand, he still hoped to get a substantial sum for their ransom. On that account, coupled with the fact that already they knew too much to be released, they were retained on board the Alerte.
"Risk that," rejoined the Sub laconically. "It's better than being sent to the bottom for good and all, and that's what will happen if we don't clear out."
"Right-o," agreed Rollo Vyse. "Wait till old Pengelly's looking the other way and then shift like greased lightning."
"And get spotted directly we gain her deck," objected the Sub. "No; our best way is to drop overboard, swim round under her stern, and hang on to the falls of the boat they tried to lower. As soon as the Alerte backs clear, then up we shin."