"You mean you furnish arms?"
"For a suitable consideration—yes. In strict confidence I will state that securely packed away in the hold of the Sea Gull—largely in boxes labeled machinery—are twenty thousand rifles, six rapid-fire guns, and a sufficiency of ammunition for a small army. Once safely landed the profits of the voyage will total one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, gold. A rather tidy sum, hey?"
I grasped the idea swiftly enough, and it cleared up some of the shadow of mystery. But the situation was rendered no more pleasant for us.
"Then you are not sailing for New Orleans?"
"Not until my hold is empty. We cleared from there, light, three weeks ago."
"You mean to retain the lady on board?"
"Unless she prefers to jump overboard."
"And what have I to do with all this? You said you had use for me—what use?"