But his cat-like suppleness enabled him eventually to wriggle his sheath-knife out of his breast pocket, and he found no great difficulty then in freeing himself from his bonds.
He stood now with his knife in his hand and listened.
Before long he heard the American's voice, with the police, and they appeared to be searching.

He shouted to them; and the next moment he was released.
"He is one of our crew--belongs to the Stars and Stripes," said the American, arresting Salve, who, as long as he got out of this accursed town now, did not care in what capacity it might be, and offered no opposition.
"You have not improved your beauty, my lad," said his rescuer, derisively, as he held up the light to his face.
"I should like to have one word with the tavern-keeper before I go," said Salve.
"And that is what we have not the slightest inclination for," said the American--who, it now appeared, was boatswain on board--in a dry tone of authority.

"We are not going larking with the police.

Besides, having once recovered that trifle of wages, I don't mean to risk losing it again." The Yankees made a close ring round their prisoner, and there was nothing for it but to follow as he was directed.

A look, however, at the boatswain gave him to understand that that question of the wages would be settled between them when they got on board..