e he had left the robbers. The latter peered into
their faces as they came up, and, after satisfying themselves that the
coast was clear, led the way into the store. When the lantern was turned
up, Sam and his men looked at the burglars, and the burglars looked at
them. The result of the examination appeared to be satisfactory on both
sides, for the robbers resumed their work on the safe, while the Crusoe
men, now feeling perfectly at their ease, gazed about the store. They
looked at the shattered safe, at Johnny Harding, who lay a prisoner on
his bed, and watched with greedy eyes the packages of greenbacks which
the burglars took from the strong box, and stowed away in a valise.

"Where's our thousand dollars?" asked the governor, at length. "If you
want to go to sea with us, you had better pay us in advance."

"Now, don't you be in a hurry," was the gruff reply. "When you have
taken us safely out of sight of Newport, you shall have your money, and
not before. You'd better get to work, there. We've wasted time enough
already."

This aroused the Crusoe men, and they began to bestir themselves. They
appropriated to their own use a pile of bags which Xury found behind the
counter, and, by the time the robbers had finished overhauling the
contents of the safe, they had collected a large supply of provisions,
consisting of hams, crackers, codfish, cheese, coffee, and sugar. Johnny
watched all their movements, and before he had quite made up his mind
whether the scene transpiring before him was a dream or a reality, the
robbers had finished their work and gone out, leaving the store in total
darkness.

CHAPTER XI.

TOM'S SPLENDID IDEA.

The Crusoe men, congratulating themselves on their good fortune, and
staggering under their heavy loads of provisions, hurried back to the
schooner, and their appearance relieved the anxiety Tom had begun to
feel at their prolonged absence. He listened in amazement to the
governor's description of the events that had transpired at the store,
and looked at the robbers with curiosity. He could not help telling
himself that he had seen the time that he would have been horrified at
the thought of having such outlaws for shipmates, but now he did not
feel the least tremor, and he regarded the fact as evidence that he was
getting to be a very brave sort of fellow.

"Now, then," said the chief, when the provisions had been stowed away in
the hold. "I s'pose you gentlemen don't care t