The Witch was not long in overhauling the Swan. Arno, seeing that escape
was out of the question, surrendered without a word.
"It's no use trying to get away," he said to Jason, "and we may as well
yield without a struggle. There is nothing can outsail that schooner.
I've a great mind to throw that money overboard."
"It wouldn't be of any use," replied Jason. "Perhaps they are following
us just to see who we are."
Arno shook his head at this.
"I think you'll find that Buxton is on board that vessel," he said,
looking steadily at the approaching craft. "Yes, there he is," he
continued, "though he doesn't know anything about the money."
Immediately after the capture of the Swan, Judith, Sandy McDougall and
Shaky took possession of her, the latter having paid Buxton for the
trouble he had been to. Then the Witch bore away to the northward.
Judith seemed overjoyed at seeing Arno again, all her resentment
apparently being swallowed up in the gratification she felt in once more
meeting with him. She clasped her great, strong arms about him, and held
him as though she feared losing him again.
As for Sandy and Shaky, they paid no heed whatever to the two boys. As
soon as the Witch had left the sloop, they ran the latter in among the
islands and dropped anchor.
Here they remained during the afternoon and night, the cabin of the
little vessel being given up to Judith, the men and boys sleeping in the
compartment in the bow.
When morning came, they put to sea again and sailed down the coast. Arno
and Jason had little opportunity for conversation, so close was the
vigilance of Judith.
It was considerably past noon when Sandy announced that the Petrel was
in sight, and then the little hatch in the deck forward of the mast was
raised, and Arno and Jason ordered to descend.
Realizing how helpless they were, the two boys offered no resistance,
and they soon found themselves in complete darkness, save for a faint
glimmer of light that came through a little port-hole opened for
ventilation.
"What's going to happen next?" asked Jason, throwing himself down upon
the blankets that had formed their bed the preceding night.
"It's hard telling," replied Arno, creeping forward and peering through
the little opening. "I can see the Petrel, and Captain Dilke is at the
bow."
At the mention of this name, Jason trembled, and shortly after Arno
announced that the schooner was close alongside.
Then they heard the sail flapping, and knew that the sloop had been
brought up to the wind, and presently there was a shock, as though some
heavy body had bumped against the Swan.
"It's all up with us," said Arno, leaving the little port-hole and
casting himself down beside his companion.
The trampling of heavy feet sounded upon the deck, the sides of the
vessels grated together as they rose and fell with the motion of the
water, and down in the little hold of the sloop the two boys lay and
waited tremblingly.