:

"Hands up, or I'll let daylight through you."

The terrified Woodford turned to run, but a bullet whistled past his ear.
Perhaps too he realized in that frightful instant that no place of refuge
awaited him. The island was too small to allow him to hide himself. He
abruptly halted on the edge of the wood, and facing about sullenly raised
his hands.

As for Graff Miller he did not attempt to get away. Accepting the order
addressed to his leader as applying to himself, he stood stock still and
seemed to be doing the best he could to keep the sky from falling on him.

Knowing that Hagan would look after him, Calvert gave his whole attention
to Woodford. Keeping his revolver presented, he crossed the narrow deck
of the _Deerfoot_ and dropped lightly to the ground. A few steps took him
to the cowardly ruffian. Never lowering his weapon, he ran the other hand
over the outside of the man's clothing and twitched a revolver from his
hip pocket.

"That will do, Christopher; if you now feel an inclination to lower your
dirty hands, you have my permission to do so. Perhaps it will not tire
you quite so much."

Hardly had he complied when a sharp click sounded. So quickly that it
looked like a piece of magic a pair of handcuffs were snapped upon the
miscreant, and Hagan was only a few seconds later in doing the same with
his prisoner.

The capture of the two was so easy that it suggested a farce.

"If you had only put up a fight, Kit, it would have been a good deal more
interesting," said Calvert, "but you always were one of the biggest
cowards that ever made a bluff at being a bad man. Get a move on you!"

As meekly as a lamb the prisoner stepped upon the nearest launch, and, as
ordered, seated himself on one of the seats at the stern.

"Do you want me to go there too?" humbly asked Graff Miller.

"Of course; step lively."

Calvert explained what was to be done. The handcuffed prisoners were to
be taken to Wiscasset on the _Deerfoot_, their captors bearing them
company. In that city they would be locked up, and every step that
followed would be strictly in accordance with law.

Noxon was to trail after the launch in the _Water Witch_. There was more
than one reason for this arrangement. Since both boats were capable of
making good speed, it was better than to have one tow the other. If the
_Water Witch's_ gasoline gave out, the _Deerfoot_ could take it in tow,
but this would not be done unless the necessity arose.