Matt had no intention of telling this Captain Sandoval about his trouble with the Sons of the Rising Sun.
"That is my business, Captain Sandoval," said he.
"Si, and mine, too, as you will find. Yesterday, this war ship was in Smyth Channel. Her wireless machine was out of commission and could not be used. The station at Punta Arenas kept calling for me. You answered! You replied that your boat was the Salvadore! You took the message about the escaped convicts from the air. Why? Because you wanted to find them, take them aboard, and help them escape! Carramba!"
Matt was astounded. Captain Sandoval punctuated his words by jabbing a long forefinger into the air, but Matt hardly saw the finger, or the wildly triumphant look on the captain's face.
"That is not true, Captain Sandoval," said Matt, his face flaming indignantly. "If we were trying to keep the convicts out of your hands, why should we turn them over to you, here in the strait?"
"Garcia told me," went on the captain. "He and his men were to pay you money to take them to the River Plate. You took them off the sailboat, and then you lost your courage and came westward along the strait to leave them at Punta Arenas."
"That is not the truth!"
"Don't talk so to me!" frowned the captain. "Be respectful."
"I shall tell you what I think," answered Matt. "What you say is worse than foolish. Who is this Garcia?"
"He is the leader of the convicts—the one who planned the escape. I say you helped them, because you thought they would give you money."