ordered all hands forward. At the end of the line there was a
large iron hook, which, with a dexterous throw, he succeeded in
fastening to the block. The sail was then hauled down, and the truant
sheet effectually secured.

The coast line, upon which they were in danger of being dashed to
pieces, extended northeast and southwest, and the yacht was still some
twenty rods distant from the breakers. Paul ordered the jib to be hauled
hard up on the weather side, which caused the vessel's head to swing
round with the wind; then, as the sheet was eased off, she slid over the
rock, and for a moment ran down parallel with the coast, and before the
wind.

When this manoeuvre had been successfully accomplished, Paul ran to
the helm, and giving the necessary orders, the Flyaway was soon braced
sharp up, and standing away from the breakers.

"Three cheers for Paul Duncan!" shouted Tom Nettle, when he realized
that they had escaped the terrible fate which a moment before had hung
over them. "One!"

"Hold your tongue, Tom!" replied Paul, sharply. "Try the pump, and see
whether she leaks any."

The cheers were not given in the face of this sharp rebuke, and Tom
hastened to obey the order which Paul had just issued. The examination
revealed the gratifying fact that the Flyaway was still sound, and made
no water. She had only bumped a few times in deep water with the action
of the waves.

"You can take the helm again, Tom," said Paul, when the survey was
completed. "If you wish to make me a prisoner again, I will go below."

"I do not," replied Tom.

"I am not one of your number, but I should like to ask what you intend
to do?"

"We calculated to go to Portland," replied the chief of the conspiracy.

"To Portland?"

"That is what we intended."

"That is not what you told us," said one of the boys. "You said you
would only run out a little way, and return before Captain Gordon got
back."

"That was only to get your consent to the plan, you spoonies," said
Frank.

"You are smart sailors, I must confess," replied Paul, with a sneer. "It
was easy enough to get out of the harbor, but not so easy to get back
again."

"We depended upon you," said Tom.

"Did you, indeed? Do you expect me to join in such a miserable scrape as
this?"

"We will do just what you say now."

"Will you? You are very kind. After you have got into a difficulty you
can't get out of you want me to join the company. You expect me to pilot
you dow