"No, sir," he replied, with a shake of his head. "I suppose he had his reasons, sir."
"No doubt, but this is an odd part of the ship to keep an appointment," said Jack. "We must be far away from the occupied cabins."
"Oh, yes, sir. Almost a tenth of a mile. Wonderful, ain't it, sir, the size of these big ships? A fellow could yell his lungs out in this part of the vessel, sir, and things, being as they are, and the cabins empty and all, nobody could hear him."
"I suppose not," said Jack idly. "Are we nearly there?"
"Yes, sir. Just turn down this passage, sir. Right to the left, sir, mind that step and--" Crash!
A great burst of light, as if a sudden explosion had occurred in front of him blinded Jack, and at the same instant he felt a violent blow on the back of the head. Then the bright light vanished with a loud report and he seemed to swim for an instant, in blackness. Everything went out, as if a light had been switched off, and the lad pitched heavily forward on his face.
"Good, that will settle his hash for a while," muttered a voice, and Radwig, a short, wicked-looking bludgeon in his hand, bent over the senseless boy. By the German's side was another man, a short, thick-set, clean-shaven fellow with a projecting jaw, known on the passenger list as Mr. Duncan Ewing, of Chicago.
The light of the steward's torch illumined their faces as they stood above the recumbent young wireless boy.
"I say, sir," muttered the man, "I know you've paid me well and all, sir, but I didn't bargain for no murdering business, sir. I----"
"Don't be an idiot," snapped Radwig impatiently. "We haven't hurt him. See, he's beginning to stir. Now then, Schultz----"
Radwig bent and took up the limp body by the head while Mr. Duncan Ewing, who answered with alacrity to the name of Schultz, laid hold of poor Jack by the feet.
"Now, steward," said Radwig, as they carried their burden into an empty cabin, "keep a stiff upper lip till we dock, and then I don't care what happens. You'll be well taken care of. Don't forget that."
"Yes, sir, I know, sir," said the man, whose hand was trembling as he held the torch; "but I don't like the business, sir. If it wasn't for my poor wife being sick and needing the money, and all---"