"Get the hand irons on 'em first
and watch out, for they're tricky. They may get you."
The boys were marched out of the little cabin and down to the river,
where they boarded a boat under the direction of Lopez.
Doright at the oars had plenty of work to pull the craft with its heavy
load. At last they approached a vessel lying at anchor in the stream.
Lopez's hail brought an answer immediately.
"Up you go," commanded the outlaw to the boys, as Doright loosened the
shackles. "Over the rail with you now and no monkey work."
So deeply loaded was the schooner--a large three-masted vessel--that the
boys had little difficulty in reaching her rail and vaulting it.
Arriving on deck they found an officer and two or three members of the
crew standing ready to receive them.
"Well, here are the three men you wanted," stated Lopez to the officer.
"I had hard work gettin' them, but they wanted a vessel bad so I signed
'em on. Now to settle up if you please."
"Take these men forward, Johnson, and break 'em in," commanded the mate,
passing some money over to Lopez. "Get a jump on 'em."
A tug took the schooner in tow. As she passed the shipyard Charley
whistled, "Bob White." The mate's fist descended on his head.
CHAPTER XIX
TREACHERY EXPOSED
"He didn't say," replied the watchman. "He left this letter."
Proffering an envelope to Jack the watchman passed on to his duties.
Apparently he had lost all interest in the missive.
Jack looked blankly at his comrades.
Pages:
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154