“So that is the way you reward us for giving you an exclusive story, is it?” Professor Stevens’ voice was scathing. “A representative of the press! A stowaway, rather—and as such you will be treated!”
He turned to one of his officers.
“Report to Captain Petersen that we have a stowaway aboard and order him to put about at once.”
He turned to another.
“See that Mr. Hunter is taken below and locked up. When we reach New York, he will be handed over to the police.”
“But daddy!” protested Diane, as they rose to comply, her eyes softening now. “We shouldn’t be too severe with Mr. Hunter. After all, he is probably doing only what his paper ordered him to.”
Gratefully Larry turned toward his defender. But he couldn’t let that pass.
“No, I’m acting only on my own initiative,” he said. “No one told me to come.”
For he couldn’t get his city editor involved, and after all it was his own idea.