“Tell the captain to watch out.”
“What do you mean?” asked Mark quickly.
“Hush! Not so loud!” the mate exclaimed. “If the men hear me talking to you, or see me, they may kill me. Tell the captain to look out; that’s all. Be on guard, and watch the engine room carefully.”
“But why—?” Mark began, when, turning suddenly, the mate left him. It was well he did so, for, at that instant, one of the sailors, who had observed the two conversing, strolled in their direction.
Much alarmed, Mark sought Mr. Henderson and told him what he had heard.
“I suppose the fire may have turned the poor man’s head,” the scientist said. “I wonder if he thinks the men I rescued would mutiny and take possession of my ship? If they did they would not know how to work it, so what good would it do?”
“Hadn’t we better look out?” asked Mark.
“I’m not afraid,” replied the professor. “I will be too busy the next few days, repairing the break, to think of anything else. Besides, what would they want to harm us for? Didn’t we save their lives?”
Seeing the scientist placed no faith in what the mate had said, Mark went back to his task.
It soon became too dark to work, and it was decided, after supper, to halt the ship until morning as it would be less risky.