Tintin Forums

I've just been reading Cigars of the Pharaoh (for the billionth time), when I came across the scene where Tintin is mistaken for a policeman by the guy who is gun-running (he's based on a real man, can't remember his name, who wrote a book called Secrets in the Red Sea).

Then, while Tintin was being tied up, one of the sailors says that there is danger from another boat, so that guy leaves Tintin in the hold.

But right before he goes, he says to Tintin,"If you've given me away, just remember this. My boat is mined, and I'll blow her sky high before I surrender!"

Then, a few moments later, Tintin thinks that the ship is about to blow up. Then there's a big "boom!"...

Tintin realizes that it was another boat coming alongside.

My question is why the ship didn't blow up? The gun-running guy said the boat was mined, so why didn't they go off?

Henry de Monfreid, a notorious adventurer.

As for the mines, well he was probably just trying to give Tintin something more to worry about.

By the time the police launch hit the boat he and his men were probably in too much of a rush to escape to set the mines or else, for all his boldness, he actually did surrender without a fight.