"I wouldn't," advised Blake, and now he had control of his own feelings.
"Why not?"
"Because," answered Blake slowly, as he smiled at his chum, "he might, with perfect truth and considerable reason, say it was none of your business."
"None of my business? None of our business that he follows us aboard this ship when we're going over to get official war films? Well, Blake Stewart, I did think you had some spunk, but——"
"Easy now," cautioned Macaroni. "He's looking over here to see what the row's about. There! He's looking right at us."
The Frenchman did, indeed, seem to observe for the first time the presence of the boys so close to him. He looked over, bowed and smiled, but did not leave his place near the rail. He appeared to be occupied in looking at the docks and the shipping of New York harbor, glancing now at the tall buildings of New York, and again over at the Jersey shore and the Statue of Liberty.
"Come on back here—behind the deckhouse," advised Blake to his chum and Macaroni. "We can talk then and he can't see us."
And when they were thus out of sight, and the vessel was gathering way under her own power, Joe burst out with:
"Say, what does all this mean? Why didn't you let me go over and ask him what he meant by following us on board this vessel?"
"I told you," answered Blake, "that he'd probably tell you it was none of your business."