quite familiar from past associations with the lay of things
aboard that hulk.

Ned had his little hand-electric torch ready, and when he believed that
the proper instant had come for action, he suddenly pressed the button
that caused a flash to dazzle the eyes of the men.

"Surrender! Don't try to make a single move, or you'll be shot down.
We've got you covered by our guns, so throw up your hands, both of you!"
was what he exclaimed, and at the same instant, the others stood up with
leveled rifles.

It was evidently a complete surprise for the invading force. They
elevated both hands as ordered, mechanically perhaps, for at the same
time they were uttering exclamations of bewilderment and wonder.

"Make sure of the boat, Jimmy!" said Ned, with an eye to their great
need; and only too gladly did the other scout jump forward to where the
rope had been passed around that cleat under the rail.

"Who are you, anyway, and what d'ye mean by holding us up this way?"
finally asked the older of the two prisoners; and now that he found time
to look closer, Ned was himself amazed to discover that both of them had
the appearance of seafaring men, in regards to garments and bronzed
faces.

"I'm going to ask you that same question," he managed to say. "Who are
you, and what do you want coming ashore in the night to board this
wreck?"

The men turned and looked at each other.

"What d'ye think of that, now, Captain Bill?" asked the younger man. "Me
to be asked that, as has lived and cruised aboard this old whaler
_Comet_ for six years and more, till she was wrecked in the ice last
season, and they carried me away, out o' my head from exposure? Ain't I
got a right aboard here, if anybody has? 'Twas only lately that I
learned she was ashore 'stead of bein' at the bottom of Hudson Bay; and
as I had some valuable papers hid in a bulkhead that I thought was lost
to me for good and all, why, I got Captain Bill, whose mate I am this
trip, to come ashore along with me, so's to see if they be here still.
We knowed there was a wild crowd prospectin' for copper up around these
parts, and didn't dare try to land in daylight. There was other reasons
besides. But now we've told you who and what we are, s'pose you turn
around and enlighten us. Seems like I seen them sort o' suits afore now,
on the Boy Scouts o' Swamsscot, where I hail from in New England. Be you
members of the same organization, boys?"

For a minute almost, none of the