“Shouldn’t wonder. He’s foolish for taking in sail now, when the wind is dying out,” added Ford. “I don’t know about that. We may have more wind than we want presently.” And I pointed to a heavy cloud that was scurrying over. “By George! I think you are right!” exclaimed the mill-hand. “That looks nasty, and no mistake!” A moment later the wind died out utterly. We almost came to a standstill, and immediately dropped all sails. The Catch Me did the same, but not before she had been carried a goodly distance farther away. “Here it comes!” I shouted, as a long, low line of white swept up from the south. “Hold fast, Dan!” “I’m all right, Rube; look out for yourself.” He had hardly spoken before the first brush of the squall was upon us. It caused the water to foam and dash on all sides, and the Mary bobbed up and down as if she was a cork. Then came a heavy puff of wind that sent us driving onward, and made us ship fully half a dozen pails of water. I began to bail out; and seeing this, Ford set to helping me. A moment later the sky was fairly black, and it began to rain, first lightly, but soon in a perfect torrent. We had but scant protection, and it did not take long for the water to get to our very skins, making us far from comfortable. “Do you see anything of the Catch Me?” I shouted, so as to be heard above the roaring of the wind. “No; the rain hides everything,” replied Ford. “Wonder how long this squall is going to last?” “They never last very long; but we must keep on bailing, or we will be swamped.” After this we were silent for perhaps ten minutes. I could not help but shiver, and I saw that my companion did the same. “I think it is letting up on the blow,” said Ford presently. “It is; but it’s raining as hard as ever.” Five minutes later the shower stopped short, and the clouds began to scatter. “The squall is over. They are always short, sharp, and nasty. Let us hoist the mainsail, and continue our chase.” Easier said than done. Under cover of the squall the Catch Me had slid out of sight. “Then we’ll make for Rock Island. I am satisfied that that is the place for which Mr. Norton was bound. It is more than likely he has been off to get some provisions.” “Shouldn’t wonder but what you were right, Rube. Shall we make for the south shore?” “That is as good as any. We can watch out for the Catch Me, and by getting her away leave the robbers without a means of quitting the place.” “True! I never thought of that. The south shore it is.” Presently the setting sun came out, and we made arrangements to dry our clothing. Luckily there were a couple of old suits in the cuddy of the sloop, and these were put on in the meanwhile. In half an hour we were in sight of the island, and then we took a reef in the mainsail, and lowered the jib. “We want to be as careful as possible,” I said. “These men are desperate, and they may be on the watch for any one who comes along.” “You’ve got the gun.”