He
said that he had received Jules' strict orders not to interfere in any
way, no matter what might happen on the deck of the yacht. He
was the captain of the yacht, and he had to make for a certain
English port, the name of which he could not divulge: he was to
keep the vessel at full steam ahead under any and all
circumstances. He seemed to be a very big, a very strong, and a
very determined man, and the Prince was at a loss what course of
action to pursue. He asked several more questions, but the only
effect of them was to render the man taciturn and ill-humoured.
In vain Prince Aribert explained that Miss Nella Racksole,
daughter of millionaire Racksole, had been abducted by Mr Tom
Jackson; in vain he flourished the revolver threateningly; the surly
but courageous captain said merely that that had nothing to do
with him; he had instructions, and he should carry them out. He
sarcastically begged to remind his interlocutor that he was the
captain of the yacht.
'It won't do to shoot him, I suppose,' said the Prince to Nella. 'I
might bore a hole into his leg, or something of that kind.'
'It's rather risky, and rather hard on the poor captain, with his
extraordinary sense of duty,' said Nella. 'And, besides, the whole
crew might turn on us. No, we must think of something else.'
'I wonder where the crew is,' said the Prince.
Just then Mr Jackson, prone and bound on the deck, showed signs
of recovering from his swoon.
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