“Guess not,” said Frank. “She does not look like a fisherman. There is something mysterious in her appearance.” “You know Capt. Kidd ran in here something over a hundred years ago and landed on the Thimbles,” Harry reminded. “He hid his vessel behind the rocky islands and buried his treasure where he and no one else has since been able to find it. His ‘punch bowl’ and initials remain to prove that he really did come in here.” “Imagine we are living in the days of pirates,” said Diamond, his eyes sparkling. “Imagine that fellow coming yonder is one.” “We’d be headed the other way, instead of bearing down to cross close under his stern,” declared Hodge. “I don’t believe that schooner is much of a sailor, for all of her rakish appearance,” said Harry. “She’s running under light sail,” observed Frank. “It would make a difference if she were to crack on every stitch.” At the wheel a man seemed half asleep. Another man was at work forward, and those were all the boys could see. “Don’t believe she carries a heavy crew,” said Browning, surveying the schooner with lazy interest. Somehow or other as they drew nearer to the black vessel they lowered their voices and all seemed to feel an air of awe stealing over them. “Do you make out her name, Merry?” asked Harry of Frank, who had the glass. “Yes. There, you can all see it now.” The schooner swung to port, and the white letters on her stern were distinctly seen. “_P-i-r-a-t-e_,” spelled Diamond. “_Pirate_?” gasped Harry, doubtfully. “_Pirate_!” exclaimed Hodge, excitedly. “_Pirate_,” came languidly from Browning, who showed no remarkable interest. “That’s right,” nodded Frank. “An appropriate name for her, sure enough.” “I should say so!” nodded Rattleton. “She looks like a pirate.” “And I’m hanged if the man at the wheel don’t look like one!” half laughed Frank, passing the glass to Harry. Rattleton took a look through the glass. “Both men are tough-looking fellows,” he declared. “They have the appearance of men who would not hesitate to cut a throat for a sawbuck. I wouldn’t---- What’s up now?” There was a commotion on board the black schooner. CHAPTER II. THE MAN WITH THE GUN. “Something’s wrong!” “Sure pop!” The boys heard a scream. It sounded like the voice of a woman. Then there was a hoarse shout. The man at the wheel woke to a show of interest, and the man forward started aft. Suddenly a girlish figure appeared on deck. She ran to the rail and tried to leap overboard, but two men, besides those already on deck, appeared in pursuit, grasped and held her. The girl seemed to see the small sailboat. “Help!” she wildly cried. “Save----” One of the men clapped a hand over her mouth, and she was carried away, struggling. Then there was excitement on board the _Jolly Sport_. “The Old Nick is to pay on board the _Pirate_!” exclaimed Rattleton. “It’s a girl, boys!” cried Diamond, all his natural gallantry awakened and aroused. “She is in distress. We must aid her!”