Alice and Ruth tried to tell him at once, the former eager to enlist his sympathies in Jack's cause. Mr. DeVere promised readily enough.
"Though I can't hold out any hope for you," he said. "I know nothing of law, but international affairs are always slow."
"But I ought to get justice in the end, ought I not?" asked Jack, respectfully.
"You ought, my man, and I'll do all I can for you," said Mr. DeVere.
"Oh, what a pretty sight!" exclaimed the voice of Miss Dixon, as she emerged from a companionway with her chum, Miss Pennington. "Isn't it romantic--stopping to speak to a steamer at sea?"
"Delightful," agreed Miss Pennington. "I wonder if the captain of the steamer will ask us to tea? It's a British vessel, and Englishmen are so fond of tea."
"Yes, and they are so romantic and good-looking," agreed Miss Dixon. "But perhaps this is only for moving pictures."
"Oh, pshaw! Perhaps it is!" sighed her companion, and the two of them, who had been taking surreptitious glances in mirrors, enclosed in the flaps of their bags, ceased "primping," until they could be sure whether or not there was any object in it.
"What's it all about?" asked Miss Dixon again.
"Oh, they're going to take one of our men, I believe," said Pop Snooks, the property "angel," as the ladies often called him.
"Oh dear! What are they? Pirates?" gasped Miss Pennington.
"No, it's Jack Jepson they're after. Some old charge, I believe."
"Ha! I knew something would happen on this voyage!" exclaimed Mr. Pepper Sneed. "I felt it in my bones all along."
"Good thing you're not disappointed," murmured Alice.
"Oh dear!" sighed her sister. "It's too bad. And I liked Jack so."
"So did I," returned Alice. "But they're a long while sending that boat."
It did seem so, for there were no signs yet, of one being lowered over the side, though Captain Brisco, after the command to lay to, had ordered his accommodation ladder lowered to receive the visitors.
"We won't send a boat right away. A hurricane is sweeping up fast, and this is a bad locality in which to be caught," called one of the steamer's officers through a megaphone. "We'll have to get out of here, and so had you better. There's no sea-room here. We'll pick you up later, and don't forget you are in English waters, and subject to our orders. We're going to have that man!"