“What have you done?” he inquired in alarm as he saw for the first time the launch in tow. “I felt uneasy after you had gone and followed you in one of the ship’s steamers. I heard the firing a few minutes ago and then sighted you coming back. What does it mean?” He stopped breathlessly in amazement.
Phil was the first to speak. He quietly and laconically outlined the incident from the beginning, leaving out all that in any way concerned Lazar.
“And now, sir,” he said in conclusion, “I am no longer in command. I am ready to receive your orders, sir.”
Both lads saluted, and O’Neil seeing that something was going forward raised his hand also to his cap.
“Bless me!” cried the captain, glancing at his piratical crew in the glimmer of the swinging lantern. They did look desperate; each of the three was plentifully sprinkled with the blood of the wounded man and Phil was bared to the waist, his shirt having gone to make a first-aid bandage.
“What puzzled us,” began Phil, “is how we are going to dispose of these arms. Of course, we must set the launch free to-night.”
“Exactly so,” exclaimed the captain; “that is the question—what to do with the arms.”
“Wouldn’t on board the ship be the safest place?” questioned Sydney.
“Undoubtedly,” returned the captain, “but it wouldn’t do. I have it,” turning to Phil; “you say you are positive these boxes came on the steamer this morning addressed to our minister; then we shall deliver them to him at the legation.”
“That is our best course, surely,” Phil agreed. “But might not the minister refuse to receive them, fearing that they might be coveted by both sides, and thus precipitate an attack on the legation?”