This conversation had taken place in the gangway, a somewhat public place, and Spike beckoned to his recruit to walk aft, where he might be questioned without being overheard.
“What became of the gentleman in the boat, as you call him?” demanded Spike.
“He pulled ahead, seeming to be in a hurry.”
“Do you know who he was?”
“Not a bit of it. I never saw the man before, and he didn’t tell me his business, sir.”
“Had he any thing like a silver oar about him?”
“I saw nothing of the sort, Capt. Spike, and knows nothing consarning him.”
“What sort of a boat was he in, and where did he get it?”
“Well, as to the boat, sir, I can say a word, seein’ it was so much to my mind, and pulled so wonderful smart. It was a light ship’s yawl, with four oars, and came round the Hook just a’ter you had got the brig’s head round to the eastward. You must have seen it, I should think, though it kept close in with the wharves, as if it wished to be snug.”
“Then the gentleman, as you call him, expected that very boat to come and take him off?”