The lieutenant had prolonged the parley, making offers and trying, by threat, by pleading, by persuasion, to induce the desperate crew of El Libertad to see reason, to give themselves up.
Nicky had somewhat loosened the rope around his wrists, but he did not let this be known because he knew that he could not make his escape and he wanted to save his strength for a surprise at a more advantageous time.
Tom, flopping his wet, naked body onto the after deck and tumbling unceremoniously into the cockpit, turned every man’s attention in that direction.
“So help me!” shouted Tew, “it’s a mermaid—no, a merman—what’s come floppin’ aboard.” He released one of Nicky’s arms and crawled aft. Don Ortiga still kept Nicky covered with his weapon, a menacing glow in his eyes. All of the crew crouched because they did not want to risk the chance of an unexpected shot from the cutter. Crawling to where the engineer was rocking the flywheel, getting the engine to start again, Tew confronted Tom.
“What brought you aboard?” he demanded.
“I came to be with my chum!” declared Tom. “If you’ll let me get Mr. Coleson’s jumper out of the engine locker, I’ll thank you.” Tew nodded and Tom secured the jumper with which to cover his body.
Lieutenant Sommerlee saw the naked body land on El Libertad and realized that it was Tom’s, but did not see why the boy had deliberately gone into danger.
However, as attention seemed to be distracted from him he seized the opportunity to make a sign to the man at the cutter’s engine and that sailor, with careful hand, advanced his throttle, so that the engine got more gas and picked up. The cutter began to nose in to closer quarters with the white boat.
At the same time Senor Ortiga drew a weapon and pointed it toward Tom.
“You come forward,” he commanded. “Tew—or somebody—tie him up.”