ow.
After three months hard work, we've got fairly started for our island.
Who cares for them spooneys in the yacht? We've got a swift vessel, an'
we can show 'em a pretty pair of heels."

The chief was as gay and jubilant as Tom was vexed and disappointed.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE PHANTOM SCHOONER.

The governor was now as certain that he would see Crusoe's island as he
was that he was at that moment standing on the deck of the Sweepstakes.
What was there to prevent it? The worst obstacles in his way, the only
ones, in fact, of which he had stood in fear, had been overcome. The
schooner had been captured, the provisions secured, he had assisted Tom
in his mad scheme for destroying the yacht, and made good his retreat,
and now he was fairly out of the harbor with a swift vessel under his
feet, propelled by a strong and favorable breeze, his pursuers a mile
behind, and losing ground every moment. The prospect was certainly
encouraging.

The chief had told Tom that the Sweepstakes could show the yacht a
pretty pair of heels, and no doubt, in a fair trial of speed, she would
have done so, for she was a much larger vessel than the sloop, and
carried nearly twice as much canvas. But the governor forgot that the
race is not always to the swift, and that the yacht had a decided
advantage in being handled by a captain who understood his business.
Harry Green was an excellent sailor for a boy of his age, and he was
backed up by a crew who had been his competitors at the examination, and
consequently they were almost as well posted as he was, and quite
competent to offer advice if he needed it, while Tom had no one to
consult, his men being as ignorant as himself. The first lieutenant knew
what the Sweepstakes could do in the way of sailing, and he was well
aware of the fact that if he expected to capture the governor and his
crew he must depend more upon strategy than upon the speed of his
vessel.

By the time the fight between the midshipman and the Crusoe men was
ended, the Storm King had been got under way and was standing down the
harbor. The first lieutenant, having just come out of the galley, was
thoughtfully pacing his quarter-deck, where he was presently joined by
Jackson, who looked none the worse for his battle with the fire. Of
course the exciting events of the night came up for discussion. The
young officers expressed unbounded astonishment at Tom's audacity, and
tried in vain to determine what new idea he