The faint impression of light
which they had first received grew stronger and Madden saw that the
decks were illuminated by long bands of diffused light, although he
could not guess its origin.
On the lowest deck, the American made out the small figure of a man
marching back and forth with a gun.
At this sight, both boys stopped rowing, lifted the oars from tholes and
began paddling noiselessly, canoe-fashion.
"That must be the accommodation ladder," whispered Madden, "where the
guard is."
"Who are they afraid will board them?" queried Caradoc. "Mermaids?"
"It is a strange precaution to take in the Sargasso," agreed the
American. "It is going to make our entrance difficult."
They ceased paddling now and drifted silently toward the monster.
"I wonder if they aren't smugglers," hazarded Caradoc,
"Must be up-to-date, to use submarines--a submarine would defy
detection, wouldn't it?"
"And rich--nobody but millionaire smugglers could get together all this
paraphernalia."
"I'll venture insurance is at the bottom of this fraud, Caradoc,"
hazarded Madden. "These swindlers insure a cargo, bring it to this
place, reship it, sink the vessel, or repaint and rebuild it, then
collect the insurance money--do you remember the log of the _Minnie
B_?"
"No, I didn't read it.
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