“I’ll fire,” said he, solemnly. The next instant, bang! or, rather, pop! went the pistol. But the schooner took not the smallest notice even of that overpowering demonstration. On the contrary, it kept straight on without altering its course. “They’re blind, and deaf, too; and that’s all about it,” cried Phil Kennedy, in deep disgust. “I wonder what’s the matter with them,” said Bruce. “They don’t keep a very good lookout, or they’d surely see us. There’s red flannel enough here to be seen five miles off.” “I wonder who is steering.” “I wonder who those two chaps are in the bow. Can it be Bogud and the mate?” “I wonder who that old boy in a pea-jacket can be? It surely can’t be Mr. Simmons?” “It’s Captain Corbet.” “Nonsense! Captain Corbet is steering.” “No, that’s the mate.” “It isn’t, either. Don’t you see the mate on the bow?” “That the mate! That’s Mr. Long.” “Bah! Mr. Long don’t generally go in his shirtsleeves.” “Why shouldn’t he? I s’pose he is helping the others. He’d just as soon take off his coat as not, if he had anything to do.” “It isn’t Mr. Long, any way.” But these wonders and conjectures were now interrupted by a movement on the part of the schooner. She had already gone beyond the spot where the boys were standing, and had come to within half a mile of the beach. She now wore round. Flap went the sails! there was a quick movement on board, and then away she went on another tack, with her head turned toward the opposite shore. “She’s leaving us!” cried Bruce, aghast. For a few moments all stood in silent dismay. This was a thing which they were not prepared for. If no schooner had come at all, they could easily have borne up; but now, since one had come, they had not for a moment doubted their speedy deliverance. There was not hope, but certainty, in her appearance. But now this was dashed to the ground, and the reaction was extreme. Bart was the first to break the silence. “1 tell you what, boys,” he cried, “I don’t believe it was them at all.” “O, yes, it was,” said Arthur. “I recognized Captain Corbet.” “No; you may depend upon it, you were utterly mistaken. Why, do you suppose, if they were after us, they would have come and gone so coolly? There wasn’t the slightest sign of any anxiety, or curiosity about them. If it had been our friends, they’d have seen our signals soon enough.” “Yes, and the Antelope down there nearly ashore.” “Well, I don’t know. But I certainly thought I recognized Captain Corbet.” “I thought I saw Bogud.” “Not a bit of it. They were strangers, and that accounts for everything.” “And now,” said Tom, “all that we’ve got to do is to wait for a few minutes more, and then start.”