Mr. Force directed the driver to draw up. Then he alighted from the carriage and handed his wife down; Odalite and Rosemary sprang out unassisted. Odalite’s face was bright, eager, expectant; Rosemary’s pale, timid and anxious; both stood looking out upon the prize. “How shall we reach the ship?” inquired Mrs. Force. “I must signal for a boat to come off and fetch us! Stay, there is a boat coming,” announced the squire, and soon they all saw the boat that had been partly hidden in the shadow of the ship’s hulk, put off from her side. It was rowed by six sailors and approached the shore rapidly. “Who is in it? Oh, if it should be Roland!” aspirated Rosemary, in a low, deep tone. “Who is it, Abel?” inquired Mrs. Force of her husband, who was looking through a field glass. “There is but one man besides the oarsmen, and his back is toward us. I do not know who he is; but—he is neither Leonidas nor Roland! He is much too stout for either of our boys! He is as broad-backed as old Gideon Grandiere!” “By the way, where is Capt. Grandiere? You said he had come down to the yard; but we have not seen him.” “My dear, he was a full half hour in advance of us, and must be on board the _Argente_, giving the officers and crew the benefit of his views on piracy! Come, the boat is almost here!” A few minutes after the boat landed, the sailors drew in their oars and the single passenger turned around, got upon his feet, and stepped ashore. He was the old skipper. “Oh! Capt. Grandiere! What news?” exclaimed Mr. Force, while all his party looked the eager question which they did not put into words. “No news at all! Nothing but a fresh disappointment and a longer suspense.” “What do you mean?” inquired Mrs. Force. The old man took off his cap, drew his red bandanna from its crown, deliberately wiped his face and head, replaced the handkerchief in his cap and his cap upon his crown and answered: “There’s nobody aboard that can tell me anything, or that will tell anything if they can.” “And did you learn nothing?” “Nothing but this: that Lieut. Force has gone to make his report at headquarters, and nobody knows when he will be back. And the pirate and his mate are gone before the commissioner of prisoners, and nobody knows what their fate is to be.” “And did you hear nothing—nothing at all of Roland?” inquired Rosemary, in a faint voice. “Nothing whatever, my girl! I did inquire, but no one knew anything of any young man of that name. I am very sorry, my poor child.” Rosemary had grown very pale and looked as if she were about to faint. The old skipper raised her in his arms and laid her in the carriage, where she sank back upon the cushions. Mrs. Force got in, seated herself beside Rosemary and drew the suffering girl to her bosom.