“Perhaps he felt that he had a better show to get ashore if he swam for it than he had if he remained in the boat,” suggested Browning. “Hodge was not a fool,” said Frank, a bit sharply. “He knew he had no show at all if he left the boat.” “Then why did he leave it?” “That the rest of us might have a better show. He thought the boat would keep afloat longer.” “Do you think that?” “It seems that way.” They talked it over and over, wringing the water from their clothes. Despite the fact that four of them had escaped, all felt that a frightful calamity had occurred. At one time it had seemed there was not one chance in a hundred for any of them to escape, but, now they were ashore, the horror of the loss of a single man made them sick at heart. “I’ll never own another boat!” declared Rattleton. “I’ve had enough of it.” A light flashed out on the cove. It was on board the vessel that they had run against. Then they spoke of her. “Do you know,” said Diamond, “I believe I can name that vessel.” “Do you really think so?” asked Harry. “Sure.” “Name her.” “_Pirate_.” “What?” Harry and Bruce uttered the exclamation together. Both were startled. Frank Merriwell said nothing. Had he been asked to name the vessel, he would have said the same thing. “How can that be?” asked Harry. “We thought it was the _Pirate_ that came so near running us down on the sound.” “Perhaps it was.” “Impossible! She could not be here.” “Why not?” asked Frank. “We ran into this cove, and the _Sport_ was disabled at that.” “But the _Pirate_ is a big vessel.” “Not so very large.” “Why should she run in here?” “There is some mystery about her. Like Diamond, I think that is the black schooner. She had time to run in here and drop anchor ahead of us, and that’s what she did. We know no vessel was here when we left the cove this afternoon. She must have come in since then.” “Say, fellows,” grunted Browning. “Say it.” “I don’t believe her name is a misnomer. It strikes me she is a genuine old pirate. If not, why is she running around in this way and taking such chances of being piled high and dry on these islands? She came into this cove to hide.” “The days of pirates are past,” said Jack. “Don’t care,” growled Bruce. “Capt. Horn is a pirate chief, or he’s the ghost of one, and his old schooner is a phantom, like the _Flying Dutchman_.” “She’s a pretty solid phantom,” said Frank. “We struck against her and scraped her side.” “If that is the _Pirate_.” “Hark!” The boys listened, and the wind brought to their ears sounds that interested them. “They are lowering a boat out there,” said Frank. “Surely they are at some unlawful business, or they would not work in the dark and fail to display a single light.” A few moments later the boys heard the sound of oars clanking in rowlocks. “Coming!” Rattleton uttered the exclamation. “Sounds like it!” agreed Diamond. Browning grunted. Merriwell was silent.