d: "you want us to go below and stay till the lugger
is worked out."

"Yais, zat is it," said the captain. "Some day you sall help me, visout
ze pilot, eh? Go below, and stop youselfs. Shut ze cabin door. You
vill find somesings to eat."

The boys went down without a word, and they had proof that the captain
followed them, for a sharp click told that a bolt outside had been shot.

"Eat!" said Vince scornfully; "he thinks that boys are always wanting to
eat!"

"Never mind, Cinder," said Mike, sitting down before the table, upon
which some fresh provisions stood. "Let him think what he likes; let
you and me eat while we have a chance; we may be escaping, and not get
an opportunity for hours and hours."

Vince saw the force of the argument, and followed his companion's
example, both listening the while and hearing the men hurry on deck.

Soon after they felt the lugger begin to move, and they sat eating and
comparing notes as they recalled what they had heard the last time. But
they could only build up imaginary ideas about the currents, channels
and rocks which the vessel had to thread.

"I give it up," said Vince; "we can't understand it all without eyes."

Just then the captain came down and seated himself to make a hearty
supper, and by the time he had done it was evident that they were out to
sea once more, for the vessel swayed softly from side to side, but there
was little motion otherwise.

"You vill not be sea-seek to-night, _mes amis_," said the captain; "zere
is hardly no vind at all. You must go on deck soon and vistle for it to
come."

But he did not let them go up till he had himself been there for some
time, and when they ascended eagerly, it was to see that the sky was
brilliantly studded with stars, a very faint wind blowing from the west,
and the Crag looming out of the darkness about a mile away, but Joe
Daygo's boat had disappeared.

The lugger was gliding along very gently, on a north-easterly course,
with all sail set; and the boys came to the conclusion that the last
manoeuvre was to be repeated, but unless the wind sprang up the trip
promised to be long and tedious.

But one never knows what is going to happen at sea.

They had been sailing for about a couple of hours, with the captain
walking up and down with a long spy-glass under his arm; and from time
to time he stopped to rest it on the rail and carefully sweep the
offing, as if in search of something, but apparently alwa