“‘Hegan!’ he said to Number Two, looking mighty surprised. ‘What are you doing here?’
“‘Same thing that you are, I s’pose,’ says Hegan. ‘Didn’t expect to see me for a while yet, eh?’
“‘Well, you’re too late,’ says Martin.
“And that started it. What they were talking about I didn’t understand exactly. All I could make out was that Hegan didn’t believe he was too late for something or other, and Martin got so het up he come near to having a fit. The things he said to Number Two warn’t never heard in no chapel, and why Hegan didn’t punch him is more than I can make out. Hammer and tongs they went at it, but Hegan didn’t lose his temper as much as the other chap. He’d made up his mind about whatever it was, and didn’t mean to give way.
“All of a sudden, Martin spotted me, and as quick as a wink he calmed down as meek as a lamb. He muttered something to the other feller so low that I couldn’t hear, and next thing you know Number Two produces a cigar-case and they both lights up and walks away as nice and calm as if nothing had ever happened. They hadn’t got off the wharf when you landed.”
“Mysteriouser and mysteriouser!” commented Jack. “I’ve got a feeling that something is going to happen to some one, somehow.”
“Captain Brains, of the good ship Sea-Lark!” the mate observed, grinning.
“But, joking aside,” said Rod, “there does seem to be something in the wind, doesn’t there? What do you think of it, Mr. Crumbie?”
“Cap’n Crumbie, at your service,” the watchman corrected, with a reproving glance.
“My mistake, Cap’n. But you’re the only one who saw the two quarreling. You don’t agree with Jack that this Martin may be a detective looking for some one? The other chap, Hegan, may be another detective, and they’re both after the same person. That would explain what you overheard.”