Читать книгу The Secret Chart; or, Treasure Hunting in Hayti онлайн

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“How many are there of you?”

“Fourteen all told.”

“It’ll be snug stowing; but we’ll run for Nassau, and land you as soon as possible,” and Captain Mansfield turned as if to intimate that the interview was at an end.

“You’ll have to take deck passage, for there are only four bunks in the forecastle, and they are all filled,” Mr. Jenkins said, as he motioned the men forward.

“All right. Of course, we’re willin’ to stand our share of the work,” the man replied, as he slouched along the deck with a swaggering air.

“We’ve got crew enough, and in a small craft like this, you would only be in the way.”

Then the mate gave orders that the sailors should return with the boat, and the little craft was headed for the shore once more, while the newcomers covertly examined the yacht, as if they had a personal interest in her sea-going qualities.

The captain appeared to be so disturbed in mind that neither Gil nor Nelse ventured to ask him any questions relative to the men whom he was taking off the key; the boys stood amidships, where they could see all that was going on, and as Captain Mansfield paced to and fro, only stopping now and then to exchange a few words with Mr. Jenkins, Nelse whispered: