"Then I can trust you, can't I? It is something which concerns Captain Barforth and this vessel very much." "Sure you can trust me." Without hesitation, for he felt sure Norton was both honest and reliable, Fred told his story to the head engineer, who nodded many times during the recital. "I see it," whispered Norton. "I suspected something was wrong. Carey and Bossermann are in some sort of a plot with this Wingate, who came on board solely to aid that Sid Merrick. I believe Carey is going off to meet Merrick and see if he can make a deal with him." "That is what I think. How can we thwart him?" "Better fire that gun, as a signal to those on shore, first of all. Then we'll see what the mate has to say." Fred needed no urging and soon he brought up a shotgun from the cabin and discharged it--the signal heard by Songbird, as we already know. Scarcely had this been accomplished when Asa Carey rushed down upon him from the pilot house. "Hi! what did you do that for?" roared the mate, in sudden anger. "Just for fun," answered Fred, as coolly as he could, although his heart beat rapidly. "For fun?" "Yes. Haven't I a right to fire a gun if I want to?" "I reckon that was some sort of a signal for those on shore." "And supposing it was, what then, Mr. Carey?" Fred put the question boldly and looked the mate squarely in the eyes as he spoke. "Why--er--it's most unusual. There was no need of a signal." "I wanted them to know we were moving, that's all." "Humph! There was no use of alarming them. We'll be back long before they want to come aboard again." "In that case I'll have nothing more to say." "Don't you believe it?" "I'm bound to believe it, if you say so." "Don't get impudent, young man!" "I am not impudent, and you needn't get impudent either!" cried Fred, his anger rising. "You are in command here, but this boat is under charter and just now I represent the man who owns that charter. If you have got to cruise around to test the engine and shaft well and good, but if you are merely cruising around for the fun of it I say go back to where we came from--none of us want to do any cruising today." At this plain speech the mate grew purple in the face. He raised his hand as if to strike the youth, but just then Aleck came on deck, carrying a pitcher of ice water in his hand. "Stop dat! Don't yo' go fo' to hit dat boy!" cried the colored man. "If yo' do I'll fling dis watah pitcher at yo' head!" "You shut up, you rascally nigger!" shouted the mate. "You have nothing to say here!" "I'se got somet'ing to say if yo' hit Massa Fred," answered Aleck, and held the water pitcher as if ready to launch it at the mate's head. There was a moment of excitement and several crowded around, but then the mate waved the crowd away.