“I wanted to get home and see my mother, for she must fancy I am lost,” answered Jack.
“Well, and a very right motive too,” said the colonel; and he explained to the general what Jack had said.
“And what induced you to attempt the voyage?” asked the colonel, turning to Bill. “Did you want to get back to see your mother?”
“No, sir; I have no mother to see,” answered Bill. “I wanted to get back to do my duty, and fight the enemies of my country.”
The general laughed when this was interpreted to him; and observed to the officers around him, “If such is the spirit which animates the boys of England, what must we expect from the men? I must, however, consider whether we shall allow these boys to return home. They are young now, but in a short time they will grow into sturdy fellows.”
“They’ve got tongues in their young heads,” remarked the colonel. “I’m not altogether certain that they are quite as innocent as they look. Maybe they were sent on shore as spies, and perhaps are midshipmen disguised as common seamen.”
“Let them be searched, then, and ascertain whether they have any papers about them which may show their real character,” said the general.
Jack and Bill clearly understood these remarks, and began to feel very uncomfortable.
Bill remembered that Jack had got his pockets filled with gold, and Jack remembered it too, and wished that he had left it behind in the cavern as Bill had advised.
The colonel, who was in no wise particular as to what work he performed, at once took hold of Bill.