CHAPTER XXIV
IN THE ENGINE ROOM
After the bold declaration of Gasper Pold there was an awkward pause. Dick and Tom did not know what to do and neither did the party at the top of the engine-room ladder.
"Are you going to give in or not?" demanded Sack Todd, at length.
"Why should we give in?" asked Dick.
"Because if you do, we'll treat you well."
"And if we don't" came from Tom.
"Then you'll have to take the consequences. As Baxter says, we are six to two, so it is all nonsense for you to think you can hold out against us."
"Supposing we do give in, what are you going to do with us?" asked Dick, curiously but with no present intention of submitting to the evil-doers.
"Oh, we'll treat you fairly enough," put in Gasper Pold. "We'll give you all you want to eat and drink and put you off at some safe place along the coast."
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