"Mutiny! What do you mean?" demanded Mr. Pertell, a little startled by the action of the old sailor.
"That's just what I mean, sir! Oh, I forgot you don't know. But I told these young ladies about me being in a mutiny, an' I'm under suspicion in connection with it still. I can't go in an English port, and that's a nice blight to put on a man!" he said indignantly.
"Perhaps I can explain," said Ruth, "and if I go wrong, Jack, please correct me."
Thereupon Ruth told the whole story, much more connectedly, and more briefly, than would have been possible for the old salt. But Ruth had the knack of condensing a long scenario into a few words.
"Was that it?" she asked Jack, when she had finished.
"That's it, Miss, an' you did me more credit in the story than I deserved."
"Oh, no I didn't," Ruth said, smiling. "I'd like to help you solve that mystery, too--the mystery of the disappearance of the captain and Mike Tullane."
"That's it!" cried Jack. "If I could only find one of them, or if some of th' real mutineers would confess, it would clear me an' I could be free t' roam wherever I wanted t' in th' world. But it's too much t' hope for that. But you said th' name of th' vessel we was t' make believe be shipwrecked on was th' _Mary Ellen_, sir," and he turned to the manager. "The _Mary Ellen_ was the name of the craft where the mutiny occurred. Could it be--" he paused, hope showing on his eager face.
"No, there's hardly a chance that this is the same one," said Mr. Pertell. "_Mary Ellen_ is a common name for vessels," he went on, "and there must be scores with it painted on their bows. I don't know anything about the vessel I have bought, but I doubt if she was ever in a mutiny. She is a very old craft, and isn't really fit for service now. But her owners say she will do for what I want. We are going to take her to Southern waters, and the main scenes of the drama will be photographed aboard her, and around her."
"Where is the craft now, if I may ask?" inquired Mr. DeVere.
"Over in Erie Basin," answered the manager. "I am having her fitted up, and a crew is being engaged. Of course it will be some time before we sail, but I want to get everything in readiness. So suppose we take a run over there now, and look at her."