“I’ve won the game this time,” he muttered to himself. “And they can’t prove anything either. It was as slick as any Yankee move. They’ll be mad enough when they realize how I have outwitted them. And I’ve got the passage money safe in the cabin. Let me see, by dropping them behind I clear just about twenty pounds. I can tell the owners that they paid their way only as far as Kingston and they will never know differently.” As the minutes went by he looked at his watch nervously. Ten minutes to one and no one in sight--five minutes. He called to the first mate. “All ready to sail?” “Aye, aye, sir,” was the answer. “But I haven’t seen anything of those Americans.” “Well, it’s their own fault if they don’t come aboard in time. I shall not wait for them.” “Didn’t think you would, sir,” answered the mate, but in such a low voice that Captain Sudlip did not hear him. At one minute to one the lines were cast off and as a distant bell tolled the hour the _Chester_ began to move from the harbor. Standing near the pilot house Captain Sudlip continued to gaze ashore. But those he was fearful of seeing did not show themselves and presently he heaved a sigh of relief and satisfaction. Half an hour later Kingston Harbor and Jamaica itself were left behind and the _Chester_ stood boldly out into the Caribbean Sea. “Dumped ’em!” said the captain to himself, with a smile of intense satisfaction. “That will teach ’em a lesson. They can’t ride over me!” And then he added, after a pause, “Now I’ve got that nigger to myself, won’t I just teach him a lesson? He won’t be able to stand when I get through with him!” CHAPTER VII THE JOKE ON CAPTAIN SUDLIP But were our friends left behind, as Captain Sudlip so fondly hoped? Let us go back and see. It was light-hearted Darry, always ready for a joke, who offered the suggestion, while they were eating dinner at the Queen’s Hotel. “Say!” he exclaimed, suddenly, thumping the table in his excitement. “I’ve got a scheme for paying Captain Sudlip off for his meanness.” “Have you?” came from Professor Strong. “Even so, please don’t pound the dishes from the table, Darry.” “Oh, excuse me, I forgot, sir. But really, the scheme is just the thing,” went on Darry, earnestly. “Then let us have it by all means,” put in Frank. “I’m ready to do anything to get square with that man.” “My scheme is this: Let us try to get on board of the _Chester_ on the sly. Then, when he is congratulating himself on leaving us behind we can suddenly appear. I’ll wager that will knock him silly.” “Hurrah; that’s a go!” shouted Frank. “A splendid plan,” came from Sam. “We’ll have a tough job of it, getting on board without being seen,” remarked Hockley, who was envious because he had not made the suggestion. “There is always somebody on deck, and that somebody will let the captain know of our coming.” “We must watch our chance,” said Darry. “Anyway, it’s worth trying, isn’t it?”