“What have I done?” he added questioningly, much terrified over the results of his indiscretion.
“You’ve given your captain’s letters to his enemy, for one thing,” the Chinaman answered in his cruel voice, “and besides you have liberated a man——”
A shrill cry from the steam launch, which had, while waiting for the Chinaman, hauled out to the lower boom to lie more securely in the tideway, cut short Ta-Ling’s words and drew the two men to the rail.
“There’s a man tied hand and foot in this boat,” called out the coxswain in alarm. “It’s the captain!” he exclaimed with many imprecations upon those who had perpetrated the deed.
“Cut him loose, quick!” the officer cried excitedly.
Eager hands quickly cut the tight cords, and Commander Ignacio soon stood on his quarter-deck.
“An hour ago I would have throttled you if you’d stood here before me,” were his first words, spoken hoarsely and with difficulty to the Chinaman, “but I see it all now. We’ve been unmercifully duped.”
“THERE IS STILL A CHANCE”
With many bitter recriminations the whole plot and its disastrous success was discussed. Commander Ignacio could barely control his rage against the young officer who had innocently betrayed him.