"Well, considering that we've come by invitation," answered Tony, "I should say the best thing was to sit tight and admire the view. Somebody will probably notice that we've arrived, sooner or later."
With a sudden movement the Captain raised his glasses, and levelled them on the point away to the right where the river ran out into the bay.
"Seems to me," he observed, "that somebody's noticed it already."
He pointed to the headland, and as he did so both his companions suddenly caught sight of something low and black in the water that was moving slowly out of the mouth of the river.
"It's a petrol launch," said the skipper, "and unless I'm much mistaken they're coming along to say good-morning to us."
With quiet deliberation Tony surveyed the advancing vessel, which was already swinging round in the direction of the Betty.
"I can't see any one yet," he announced, "but it's pretty sure to be Colonel Saltero. Jimmy, you'd better go downstairs and lock yourself in the bathroom with Molly. I don't want him to know that we're a passenger steamer.'
"Right you are," said Jimmy with alacrity. "Come and tell us when it's all over."
He climbed down the bridge ladder, whistling tunefully to himself, and turning back towards the approaching launch, Tony again scrutinized it carefully through his glasses.
As it drew nearer he was able to see that there were three men on board, and amongst them he soon made out the square-shouldered, aggressive figure of Colonel Saltero. That distinguished warrior was seated in the stern, and even from a considerable distance one could detect the air of truculent authority with which he was directing operations.