Sydney made a move to step forward, but Phil interrupted.
“Tell him I am at his service. The weapons will be small swords, time as soon as possible. He may name the place,” he said quietly.
The lieutenant stood with puzzled face for a second translating and digesting the words.
“I will be here again, soon.” He spoke hesitatingly, not sure of his meaning. The lads bowed in response to his ceremonious farewell.
CHAPTER XIV
THE YACHT “SYLVIA”
O’Neil and Marley sat dejectedly in the luxuriously upholstered chairs of the yacht’s cabin and gazed upon each other with a mixture of annoyance and humor. It was plain to their nautical eyes that the hatch above them which they had heard closed tightly and dogged, was the only means of exit. They were securely imprisoned.
“Bill, it’s terrible to have such confiding natures,” O’Neil exclaimed glumly. “We walked into this with our eyes wide open.
“Hello!” he added surprisedly, “they’ve stopped heaving in, and there goes the launch down again.”
The sailormen’s faces were at the nearest air ports and it was soon plain enough to O’Neil what had taken place on deck as he saw the lowered launch shove off from the yacht’s side, and shoot swiftly shoreward.
“There’s that villain Impey in her stern sheets. See him, Bill?” he cried out angrily.