"We shall not find our way back in the dark, Bart, but sail right out here as near as we can guess, and then lie-to till daybreak." Bart kept his eyes fixed upon one particular light, and tried to calculate their bearings from its relation to another behind; but all the same, he felt in doubt, and shook his head again and again, when some blinding flash of lightning gave him a momentary glance of the shore. But Jack did not hesitate for a moment, keeping the boat's head in one direction with unerring instinct, till the waves were close upon their left, and it seemed that in another minute they must be swamped. Bart half rose, ready to swim for his life, as the boat leapt high, then seemed to dive down headlong, rose again, dived, and then danced lightly up and down for a few minutes before gliding slowly on again. "Was that the bar?" he whispered eagerly. "Yes. It is rough at this time of the tide," was the answer, given in the calmest manner, for Jack had not stirred. Bart drew a breath full of relief. "Be ready." "Ready it is." "Down sail." The little yard struck, the sail collapsed, and, acting by the impetus already given, the boat glided forward some distance and then grated upon a bed of sand. Bart shuddered slightly, but he was busy all the while arranging the sail ready for rapid hoisting; and this done, he carried the grapnel out some fifteen or twenty yards from the bows and fixed it cautiously in the shore.--He was about to return when a hand was laid upon his shoulder--a hand which seemed to come out of the black darkness. Bart snatched a pistol from his belt, and put it back with a grunt. "I didn't know it was you," he said, in a hoarse whisper. "Lightning seems to make it darker. Where away?" "Fifty yards south," said Jack, quietly. "Then look here, my lad. I don't want to disobey orders; but I'm a man and you're only a--" "Man," said Jack, quietly. "Then you stop by the boat and--" "Bart!" "Nay, nay, let me speak, my lad. Let me say all I want. You can trust me. If Bart Wrigley says he'll do a thing for you, he'll do it if he's got the strength and life in him. So let me do this, while you wait for me. Come, now, you will!" "No! Come with me. I must be there." Bart drew in a deep breath, and muttered to himself as he listened to the peculiarly changed voice in which his companion spoke. "You're master," he said; "and I'm ready." "Yes. Take my hand, and speak lower. There may be watchers about."