“Well, it certainly does serve him right, if he knew that; but he’s a careless fellow, and I dare say he didn’t know anything about it.” “I wonder where this coast goes?” asked Phil Kennedy. “Well, it goes in two directions,” said Bart. “Which way do you mean?” “The right.” “O, that goes to Parrsboro’ Village; the left leads up to Pratt’s Cove.” “How do you know?” “I can’t tell just where Pratt’s Cove is, but I know the direction in which it must lie from here,” said Bart. “You can tell that by seeing the way the Five Islands lie toward us. If they come for us, they’ll have to come from behind that headland.” “I wonder if they’ll come by land or water.” “I don’t see how they can come by land.” “There’s a road, I suppose.” “O, ever so far back. How could any one find anything about us on the road? No; they’ll come by water, so as to find us either afloat or ashore.” “There isn’t any boat at all in Pratt’s Cove.” “O, there must be other coves near, where they can get other boats.” “It will be hard for us, if they don’t happen to have a boat.” “O, they’ll get one.” “And meanwhile we must act for ourselves; for I don’t believe they’ll get one to-day, at any rate.” “Yes, we may as well prepare for an expedition along the coast.” “Shall we separate, or go together?” “O, together, by all means. But, hallo! what’s that?” At this exclamation from Bart, all looked where his eyes were turned. “A schooner!” they cried; “a schooner! There they come! Hurrah, boys! we’re all right.” Instantly every one sprang to his feet. “Come, boys, take off your shirts,” said Bruce, as he pulled off his own. “Let’s get ready a supply of red bunting to make signals to them.” Instantly all of them tore off their shirts, and waved them wildly from the top of the bank. Yes, it was a schooner. It had come thus suddenly upon them as they were talking; and even though they had been on the constant lookout, yet its appearance had startled them all. It was twice as large as the Antelope, of a bright green color; its masts were yellow, and its sails beautifully neat. Spreading its snow-white wings to the breeze, it came bounding over the waves from behind the headland, and directed its course in toward the shore. “She’s not heading for us at all,” said Bruce. “If she keeps on in that direction, she’ll be a mile down beyond us before we know it.” “She don’t see us,” said Bart. “Wave your signals, then! Ah, what a pity we hadn’t a good signal-post!” “I’ll climb a tree,” said Phil, looking around. “There isn’t any tree fit for the purpose. The highest ones are hidden by the smaller ones in front. This is as conspicuous a place as we can find.” Meanwhile the schooner kept on at an angle with them, and pursued her way without taking any notice’ of them, heading toward a point far down to the right of the place where they were standing. With a face of stern determination, and the air of a captain of a battery, Bart drew his pistol.