"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
