In spite of my efforts to remain calm I shivered. The weapon looked as if it was capable of doing some wicked work. “You see I’m the boss around Rock Island,” went on Carney, “and I don’t take any talk from any one. I want you to get out at once.” And saying this, he stepped back and pointed the gun at my head. I did not think he meant to fire it. He thought he would scare me; that was all. But it was not pleasant to have the barrel in line with my head, and I stepped back and out of range. “Now get on board of your sloop, and pull up anchor,” continued Carney. “I don’t want any more talk.” While he was speaking I watched my chance, and as he lowered the gun I rushed forward, grasped it with both hands, and pulled it away from him. “Here! give me back that gun!” he exclaimed, as I retreated. “Not a bit of it!” I returned. “You’ll find that two can play at that game.” And I brought up the barrel of the weapon on a level with his breast. “Don’t shoot!” “I don’t intend to if you behave yourself. Just you march over to your right.” “What for?” “Never mind; do as I tell you.” With very bad grace Carney did as I had directed. When he had reached a point fully fifteen yards away I told him to halt. The spot was in the midst of a number of barren rocks, and here I felt sure that I could watch him. “Now I am going to take a look at your boat,” I went on. “Don’t you dare to move while I do so.” “Won’t do you any good,” he muttered. Without replying, I made my way through the rough brush and over the rocks to where the mast of the boat could be seen. It was but a short distance, and soon I stood face to face with the hidden craft. For an instant I did not recognize her. The blue-and-white hull had given way to one of red, and the name had been scratched and covered with several coats of paint; but the general appearance of the deck and rigging had not been changed, and I was certain that the craft was the missing Catch Me. Had I come a day later, the job of transformation would have been complete, and the sloop might have been lost to me forever. I counted myself lucky at having made the trip of investigation as soon as I had. An instant later I looked around to see if Carney was where I left him, and I was chagrined to note that he had disappeared. CHAPTER VIII. A BLOW FROM BEHIND. For an instant I did not know what to do. Carney had vanished, and that, I was satisfied, boded no good to me. With my gun ready for use, I picked my way back to the rock nearest to my boat, intending to embark at once. The man was probably not alone on the island, and had gone off for assistance. Perhaps he would soon appear with the other two men Tom Darrow had mentioned. But as I jumped aboard my boat another surprise awaited me. Carney was hidden under an old sail forward, and I had hardly set foot upon deck when he jumped up and struck me a cruel blow from behind.