There was a rapid secret talk between the Amazons, ending with Nancy saying, “Well, tell him if you like.”
“Look here, Uncle Jim,” said Peggy.
“I beg your pardon, I thought my name was Captain Flint.”
“So it is. If you’re really going to be one of us again, we’ve got something to tell you. We know just when the burglar was burgling your boat. We saw him do it.”
“Did you, by Jove? Did you see which way he went?”
“At least we saw the light in the houseboat. We thought it was yours. We couldn’t tell you yesterday, you know, because you weren’t one of us, and when we saw that light we were in bed properly.”
“Were you? And where were you improperly?”
“On the lake.”
“So you were supposed to be in bed, and were really up to high jinks on the ocean wave?”
“It’s a secret, of course,” said Peggy.
“We were sailing down to Wild Cat Island in a private war,” said Nancy.
“If the burglar had come this way, do you think you would have heard him?” said Captain Flint.
“We didn’t. We only saw a light in the cabin, and thought it was you.”
Then John spoke.
“Able-seaman Titty thinks she did hear something that night.”
“Where was she?”