“Bring her round, Hodge--bring her round, and we’ll----” “Lay her up, Hodge, lay her up, and we’ll make a run after the schooner!” came promptly from Frank. “I want to know something more about this.” “That’s right,” nodded Rattleton, who did not resent the manner in which Frank took command. “What right have they to treat a girl like that! There’s something wrong going on!” Even Browning was aroused. “I believe Rattleton is right,” he said. “Maybe that girl has been kidnaped.” The _Jolly Sport_ was headed in pursuit of the black schooner, without immediately attracting the attention of anyone on board the _Pirate_. The girl had been overpowered with ease and carried below. “What are we going to do when we overtake them?” asked Browning. “We’ll do something if we get on board!” exclaimed Hodge. “But it’s not likely we’ll be able to get on board.” “Oh, I don’t know!” It was not long before the man at the wheel saw the boat in pursuit. He called to another man, who went below, after coming astern to take a look at the pursuing catboat. In a short time two men came up from below and took a survey of the _Jolly Sport_. One of the men seemed to be captain of the schooner. He betrayed uneasiness. Coming to the rail, the captain harshly shouted: “What are you lubbers chasin’ us fer? Go about, and mind your own business!” “We wish to talk with you, captain,” returned Frank. “Don’t want to talk,” was the surly retort. “Keep off.” “We want to talk, I tell you. What’s the use to be so unsociable. Make yourself agreeable.” “What do you want?” “We saw you were having a little trouble on board and so----” “Ain’t havin’ no trouble. Tell yer to mind your own business! If you nose round us, you’ll get hurt.” “Who was the young lady who tried to jump overboard?” “That was my gal,” answered the man, after some hesitation. “Why did she try to leap over the rail?” “She’s been sick, an’ she’s a little daffy in her upper deck, that’s all.” “He’s lying!” exclaimed Hodge, in a low voice. “You can tell that he is lying by the way he says it!” “We’ve got a doctor here,” fibbed Rattleton. “We’ll come aboard and he’ll prescribe for her.” “Keep off!” roared the man on the schooner. “We don’t want no doctors botherin’ round here.” “But we are coming aboard!” flung back Diamond. “We want to see that girl.” “You can’t see her! If you come round here, you’ll get yer heads broke!” The black-bearded sailor was angry. He shook his fist at the boys, and used language that would not look well in print. Still the _Jolly Sport_ kept after the _Pirate_, as if the youthful crew of the former had determined to overhaul the schooner and board her. There was a consultation on board the schooner, and then one of the men hastily went below. The _Jolly Sport_ was drawing close to the other vessel when the man reappeared, bringing a gun, which he handed to the black-bearded man who had done all the talking.