“On Monday morning down came Randolph Moore from Jeddo, and made straight for the offices. He had had the tip from some one that his clerks had been spreading themselves a bit, and that had made him come down out of his usual routine; but when he reached his place and found the three juniors waiting in the street with their hands in their pockets he knew that the matter was serious. “‘What’s this?’ he asked. He was a man of action, and a nasty chap to deal with when he had his topmasts lowered. “‘We can’t get in,’ said the clerks. “‘Where is Mr. Jelland?’ “‘He has not come to-day.’ “‘And Mr. McEvoy?’ “‘He has not come either.’ “Randolph Moore looked serious. ‘We must have the door down,’ said he. “They don’t build houses very solid in that land of earthquakes, and in a brace of shakes they were all in the office. Of course the thing told its own story. The safe was open, the money gone, and the clerks fled. Their employer lost no time in talk. “‘Where were they seen last?’ “‘On Saturday they bought the _Matilda_ and started for a cruise.’ “Saturday! The matter seemed hopeless if they had got two days’ start. But there was still the shadow of a chance. He rushed to the beach and swept the ocean with his glasses. “‘My God!’ he cried. ‘There’s the _Matilda_ out yonder. I know her by the rake of her mast. I have my hand upon the villains after all!’ “But there was a hitch even then. No boat had steam up, and the eager merchant had not patience to wait. Clouds were banking up along the haunch of the hills, and there was every sign of an approaching change of weather. A police boat was ready with ten armed men in her, and Randolph Moore himself took the tiller as she shot out in pursuit of the becalmed yawl. “Jelland and McEvoy, waiting wearily for the breeze which never came, saw the dark speck which sprang out from the shadow of the land and grew larger with every swish of the oars. As she drew nearer, they could see also that she was packed with men, and the gleam of weapons told what manner of men they were. Jelland stood leaning against the tiller, and he looked at the threatening sky, the limp sails, and the approaching boat. “‘It’s a case with us, Willy,’ said he. ‘By the Lord, we are two most unlucky devils, for there’s wind in that sky, and another hour would have brought it to us.’ “McEvoy groaned. “‘There’s no good softening over it, my lad,’ said Jelland. ‘It’s the police boat right enough, and there’s old Moore driving them to row like hell. It’ll be a ten-dollar job for every man of them.’ “Willy McEvoy crouched against the side with his knees on the deck. ‘My mother! my poor old mother!’ he sobbed. “‘She’ll never hear that you have been in the dock anyway,’ said Jelland. ‘My people never did much for me, but I will do that much for them. It’s no good, Mac. We can chuck our hands. God bless you, old man! Here’s the pistol!’