“Let’s go in anyway,” suggested Fred.
The Japanese offered no opposition to their entrance and when they were within the familiar room they glanced hastily about them, but there were no signs of the man they were seeking.
Abruptly, however, Fred said, “Hush! Listen, Jack! That’s the captain’s voice upstairs.”
Both boys were silent as they listened attentively to the sound of voices which now could be heard from the upper room. Gradually the captain’s voice became louder and it was manifest that he was either in trouble or angry.
To the astonishment of the boys the interview suddenly ended and the captain, rushing down the stairway, abruptly departed from the house. Apparently he had been unaware of the presence of either of the boys. He had glanced neither to the right nor to the left and as the boys looked out of the window they saw that he was walking rapidly toward the shore.
“Let him go,” said John, “he’ll have to wait for us anyway.”
“I wish I was sure that he would wait,” said Fred doubtfully.
“Wait? Of course he’ll wait,” retorted John. “That’s what he’s paid for.”
“I’m not so sure,” said Fred once more. “I think the best thing to do would be for one of us to go back and see that everything is all right.”
“All right,” responded John quickly. “You stay here if you want to and I’ll go down to the shore and see if anything happens there.”