“Heard who talking it over?” I said sharply, but he was silent again.
“Be off on deck!” I cried roughly, and he turned upon me, as if he were going to throw himself on his knees.
“What can I say, Mr. Rowan, to make you believe me?”
“Tell me who are the ringleaders.”
“I know——” he stopped short. “I can’t tell you, sir. I will not betray them. I only tell you, to be on the watch to put the rising down.”
“Don’t you be afraid about that,” I said, with a laugh. “Now go on deck, Nick Ninety-seven. You always were a sneak and a humbug. It’s all a flam, and I shall be glad to get to Sydney, if it’s only to see your back.”
He went on deck, and I walked to one of my brother officers, a sturdy fellow named Fraser.
“Here,” I said, “Ninety-seven tells me the lags are going to rise, seize the ship, and carry her off to an uninhabited island, to play Robinson Crusoe.”
“Young Nick’s a humbug and a sneak,” says my mate. “They’ll have to look sharp then, for we shall be at Sydney to-morrow before this time.”
“Then you don’t think there’s anything in it?”