"There goes the _Dictator's_ gun," shouted one of the men.
A second boom added force to the warning. The captain was evidently anxious to have his men safe out of the storm; the "fat" could be taken aboard in the morning. So Bill o' Burnt Bay, who was in tacit command of the party, called his men about him, and led the return. It was a mile over the ice to the _Dictator_, which lay waiting, with the second and third parties aboard. He was in haste; moreover, he had Sir Archibald Armstrong's son in his care: perhaps, that is why he did not stop to count the _Dictator's_ heaps of pelt before he started.
"Come, now, Tuttle, don't lag!" he shouted, ambitious to have his party return with no delay.
But Tuttle still lagged--or, rather, ran from heap to heap of pelt, as though to make sure that each was marked. He busied himself, indeed, until the party was well in advance--until, as he thought, there was no eye to see what he did under cover of the driving snow. Then he quickly snatched _Lucky Star_ flags from half a dozen heaps of "fat," cast them away, and planted _Dictator_ flags in their stead--a dishonourable duty which the house-flag of Armstrong & Son had never before been made to do.
Quite sure, now, that he had shot an arrow that would sorely wound Captain Hand and the firm of Armstrong & Son, Tuttle ran after his party. When he was yet some distance behind, he turned about, and saw a small figure following him. He stopped dead--and waited until that small figure came up.
"Topsail," he demanded, "what you been doin' back there?"
Billy was very much frightened; but he was a truthful boy, and he now told the truth. "Been sculpin' an' pilin' me swiles, sir," he stammered.
"N-n-no, sir. I didn't have no time. I was afeared I'd get lost in the snow."
Tuttle caught the boy by the shoulders, and stared fiercely into his eyes. "Did you see what I done?" he demanded.
Billy was strongly tempted to choose the easier way; but, as I have said, he was a truthful lad, and a brave lad, too. The temptation passed in a moment, and he fearlessly returned Tuttle's stare.
"If you tells Cap'n Hand what you saw," said Tuttle, tightening his grip, and bringing his face close to the lad's, "I'll----"