ove without a
guide, and if they ask any information of you, send them to me or to the
governor. If one of you says a word to them about that path, we'll tie
you hand and foot, and leave you here on the island. We'll show them
that we are quite as smart as they are."

At this moment the governor came running from the cabin, breathless and
excited, and, clambering over the rail, stormed up and down the deck,
swinging his arms about his head like the shafts of a wind-mill.
"Fellers," he shouted, "we're done fur now. Our cake's all dough. Jed's
gone!"

"Gone!" echoed all the Crusoe men, in concert.

"Yes, gone--sloped--mizzled--cleared out--and I can't find hide nor hair
of him. We'll have all them farmers down on us now."

"Well, I wonder if any living man ever heard of such luck!" drawled Tom.

"Our jig is danced at last," snarled Will Atkins. "I knew all the whole
time that we'd never see our island."

There was great excitement among the Crusoe men.

CHAPTER XVI.

JOHNNY IS MISTAKEN FOR AN ENEMY.

Johnny Harding was greatly discouraged by the result of his conflict
with the Crusoe men. His victory had been turned into defeat; and while
he was lying on his bed, bound hand and foot, the burglars were making
good their retreat from the village. Every instant of time was precious;
for, of course, the longer the pursuit was delayed, the more difficult
would it become to effect the capture of the robbers. Johnny struggled
desperately for his freedom, and shouted for help until he was too
hoarse to speak; but the governor's own hands had tied the rope with
which he was confined, and the only person within hearing of his calls
was the watchman, who was as powerless as the clerk himself. It seemed
to Johnny that he must have lain there three or four hours, although it
was really not more than twenty minutes; and, during that time, the
captain of the Crusoe band had made his unsuccessful attempt to destroy
the yacht. Johnny heard the fire-bells, and wondered if a conflagration
of the town was to be added to the excitements of the night.

There was not much sleeping done in Newport after the big bell at the
military academy added its voice to the universal din. Business men
thought of their property on the wharf, and ran down to assure
themselves of its safety. Mr. Newcombe and the grocer met in front of
the elevator. The former stumbled over his watchman, who, strangely
enough, had not been discovered by the