"Go back home, white man. We foun' dis yere wreck 'bandoned. I'se wreckin' marster—yo' heah me? If you all wants her, come aboard an' take her."
Dan saw Bill McKnight waddle aft in great haste, dive into his room, and beckon to a Resolute deck-hand. Presently the two reappeared dragging a long, heavy box which the engineer began to break open with furious blows of a hatchet.
"It's the case of Mauser rifles Bill stowed away from the last filibustering cargo he ran over to Cuba," murmured Dan. "He said he was saving 'em to start another revolution with. Hooray! hooray! there'll be something doing."
Bill McKnight was passing the rifles out to the eager crew of the Resolute who looked as if they were about to earn their passage aboard the Three Sisters. Captain Jim made one jump from the upper deck, without delaying to find the stairway, and caught up a rifle and a handful of cartridges. Once more he shouted to the wreckers on the Kenilworth:
"If you want trouble we'll give you plenty. Are you coming off?"
"We ain't scared by dem guns," yelled "Black Sam." "You ain't got no rights in dis vessel. You all don't dare to do no shootin'."
"I've got the underwriter's agent aboard this tug, and he knows the facts," returned Captain Jim. "You are pirates and I intend to have no monkey-business. I know all about you, Sam Hurley."
"Show yo' claim on dis wreck. We'se heah. You ain't," replied the negro.
Dan could hold in no longer. He poked his head above the canvas screen of the bridge, waved both arms over his head, and yelled at the top of his voice:
"You bet we're here, Uncle Jim. And I'm wrecking master and it is your job."