"Is that so?" said Dave.
"As I get it from the talk of the natives here, yes," said Adair.
"Did the pilot know it was there?" asked Dave.
"Could he miss knowing it?" demanded Adair. "Truth is, I came down here with a sort of fellow-feeling in my mind for you people. The governor here and his friends bleed every American they get hold of. They are a precious set of thieves, and when I heard of your predicament I wondered what new mischief they were up to."
"Then," said Dave, in a startled way, "you mean to insinuate that the pilot ran the Swallow into her present fix purposely?"
"I do," nodded Adair.
"Why?" demanded Dave, with a quick catch of excitement in his voice--"why did he do it?"
CHAPTER III
MR. SCHMITT-SCHMITT
"Yes," cried Bob Vilett impulsively. "Why did the pilot try to wreck the Swallow?"