"I demand to know the meaning of this?" Captain Hannock was saying in a voice of pretended indignation.
"It means that you are a prisoner," replied Mr. Henshaw.
"I can see that plainly enough," sneered the captain of the late schooner. "But why?"
"For burning the Spitfire, with a view of obtaining the high insurance upon her."
"Burning the Spitfire! Who ever heard of such a thing!"
And Captain Hannock started back in assumed astonishment.
"We have heard of it; and also of the bogus cargo you carried."
"It's a falsehood!" cried Lowell. "We know nothing of the burning of the schooner. I'm almost certain that boy set her on fire."
"What boy?"
"Luke Foster."
"Did you hire him to do it?"
"Hire him? Do you think I am a fool!" shouted Captain Hannock.
"Perhaps I do. The reason I asked was because I know you started out with the intention of setting fire to the schooner, or destroying her in someway," returned Mr. Henshaw.
