"I often wonder," he said, "how you boys learned some of the
great truths that you know."
Porky laughed. "Like not talking when you ate?" he asked. "That
was Mom. She always says that you can't expect to learn anything
from a hungry man."
"A very wise woman," the Colonel said. "She is perfectly right."
He looked at his watch.
"There is a little time, and while I smoke I will tell you all
about the little fuss we have just finished. Yes, boys, the man
you saw killed was the second mate of this ship, and a spy; a
miserable spy. No use wasting pity on him; he got what he
deserved."
The Colonel scowled.
CHAPTER XVI
SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE
Porky and Beany sat perfectly still, staring with round, bulging
eyes at the Colonel. They did not speak. They just sat there
and thought and stared, and stared and thought again. This was
about the most stunning blow of all. They had known the mate
throughout the voyage as a silent, kindly man who had treated
them well but had not made the least impression on them otherwise.
A spy! It couldn't be! Porky was conscious of a wave of horror
as he told himself that there must be some mistake. Not the
second mate! Such a nice man, always pottering about, always
ready to answer questions, always interested in everything,
always and forever asking questions himself, wanting to know
everything about themselves and their home and their plans for
the future.
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