They sprang on him furiously, and Alec, catching his leg adroitly in that of the unknown, by a movement along the jiu-jitsu order as practiced by the Japanese, managed to throw the man over, with every one of the boys clinging to him.
“Surrender!” hissed Hugh, as he poked the man in the ribs with a shell he had picked up. “Not a sound above a whisper, you hear? You’re a prisoner of war, and held in the hands of the enemy!”
“Gosh all hemlock! whatever does this here mean?” gurgled the fallen man; and when he heard him speak, Hugh knew their prisoner was not an artilleryman, but a lobster catcher.
CHAPTER XI.
A TEMPTATION AND A VICTORY.
The four scouts were all sitting on their prisoner, and Alec Sands was feeling around the man’s throat as though half tempted to try to shut off his wind if he manifested any inclination to shout. But the captive seemed to be so overcome with surprise that he could only express his feelings in that short sentence ending the last chapter.
Quick to think, Hugh realized that he must enter into some sort of explanation if he wished to save the day. This fisherman was not supposed to be in the confidence of the fort’s commander and would know next to nothing about the rules governing the great landing game. At the same time if they allowed him to get away he might betray them to those who were defending the shore batteries.
“What’s your name?” he asked shortly, in a tense whisper.
“Bige Quick!” came the ready reply.
“You’re a fisherman?” Hugh said next.
“I got some lobster traps out yonder, boss,” answered the man.