"When I paused
on the porch, before entering, I thought I caught sight of unusual
activity down at the water front. Did you notice it, too, Bascomb?"
"I noticed nothing of the sort," replied the president stiffly. "Am I to
infer, Prenter, that you are going to follow your occasional tactics and
try to laugh me out of my decision as president of the company?"
"Oh, nothing of the sort, I assure you," hastily protested the treasurer.
But he found chance to drive another wink Tom Reade's way. The young chief
engineer could not but feel that an ally had suddenly come his way.
"Now, what is the nature and extent of the mutiny?" asked Mr. Prenter.
"First of all, eight thousand dollars' damage has been done to the
retaining wall of the breakwater," replied Mr. Bascomb. "That is,
according to Mr. Reade's figures, which very likely may prove to be too
low. Also, Mr. Hazelton has been murdered."
"Hazelton---killed?" gasped Mr. Prenter showing genuine concern. "Of
course I know that the telegram to the office said that Hazelton was
missing, but I didn't suppose it was anything as tragic as a killing."
"Well, Hazelton can't be found, so I haven't a doubt he was killed as part
of a general plan of mutiny and revenge on the part of the mixed crews of
men working here," declared Mr.
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