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Brandon of the Engineers

Page 180

"How can he defy you when he knows you can hand him over to the British

authorities?"

"That might be necessary; but I am not sure it is the British authorities

he fears the most."

"Then who is he afraid of?"

"His employers, I imagine," Don Sebastian answered with a curious smile.

"It is understood that they trust nobody and are not very gentle to those

who do not serve them well. SeƱor Kenwardine knows enough about their

plans to be dangerous, and it looks as if he might fail to carry their

orders out. If we give him too long a warning, he may escape us after

all."

"I don't see how he could escape. You have him corralled when he's under

the British flag."

Don Sebastian shrugged as he indicated the steamer's low iron rail and

the glimmer of foam in the dark below.

"There is one way! If he takes it, we shall learn no more than we know

now."

He left them, and Jake looked at Dick. "It's unthinkable! I can't stand

for it!"

"No," said Dick very quietly; "he mustn't be pushed too far. For all

that, his friends can't be allowed to go on sinking British ships."

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