re and explore every nook and corner of the bluffs
on that side of the island. He left the vessel as fully determined to
effect the capture of Tom Newcombe as he had been before, and, when the
party from the farm-house came up, he had stopped with his company on
the cliffs above the cove to reconnoiter. When he heard them
approaching, he ordered his men to conceal themselves. Of course he was
not sure that they were the ones he had been sent out to capture, but he
argued, as did Josh and Bill in regard to Johnny, that if they were
honest people they would not be roaming about the island at that time of
night.

"Halt!" shouted Richardson, when the farmers, with their prisoner, had
advanced fairly within his ambush. "Close up around them, men, and punch
the first one that tries to escape."

Bill and Josh were so astonished that they did not think of flight or
resistance until it was too late. The young tars arose from their
concealments on all sides of them, and they suddenly found themselves
surrounded by a wall of gleaming bayonets, every one of which was held
so close to them that the least forward or backward movement on their
part would have brought them in contact with the cold steel.

"Well, look here! I swan to man!" said Jed, shrinking away from the
bayonets in front of him, only to receive a slight prick from three or
four behind.

"I say, fellows," stammered Bill, "you've made a mistake."

"Is that you, Richardson?" asked Johnny.

"Harding!" exclaimed the midshipman, excitedly, "and a prisoner, too.
We've got the burglars. Put your hands above your heads," he added,
sternly, addressing himself to Josh and Bill; "quick, or you'll feel the
points of those bayonets."

"Hold on, Dave," cried Johnny, when he saw that the bayonets were drawn
back for a thrust. "These men are not the robbers."

"They are not? How does it come, then, that you are a prisoner?"
demanded the young officer.

"Untie my hands, somebody, and I'll tell you all about it."

"See here, fellows," exclaimed Jed, who seemed greatly annoyed by the
close proximity of the muskets, "just turn them stickers the other way,
will you?"

None of the young tars, however, paid the least attention to his words,
and, indeed, he might as well have spoken to the wind; but Richardson
heard the appeal, and, turning to Johnny, inquired:

"Are you sure these men are all right?"

"Certainly I am," was the reply.

"Fall back!" commanded the midshipman.