Inez sprang forward and began to speak rapidly in Spanish. Cora, who
had managed to pick up a few words, understood that Inez was making
a spirited demand for the papers which she accused the fat man of
having taken from her room. Over and over again she insisted on
receiving them--here, now, at once, without delay!
So insistent was she that it looked, as though she meant to make a
personal assault on-Senor Ramo, and take the papers from his
ill-fitting frock coat.
"Whew!" whistled Walter, "that's going some, isn't it?"
"Walter! How can you?" remonstrated Cora. "At such a time, too!"
"Just can't help it!" he murmured. "He's getting his deserts all
right."
Senor Ramo fairly backed away from the excited Inez, but she followed
him to the very rail, where, as he could go no further, he made a
stand, and continued to listen to her voluble talk.
"She certainly has some spirit," murmured lieutenant Walling to Cora.
"Is that the fellow she suspects?" he asked, for he had been told the
story of Inez.
"Yes," answered Cora. "But is my mother aboard? And Mr. and Mrs.
Robinson?"
"They're not!" broke in Jack. "These scoundrels have put them
ashore--somewhere!"
"Oh!" cried Bess and Belle in chorus.
"Where?" demanded practical Cora.
"I am going to institute an inquiry at once," said Lieutenant
Walling. "I'll also have something to say to that fat Spaniard.
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