ll have them prisoners."

The major and his officers went on board the tug, which steamed down the
narrows, and the Storm King, as soon as the jolly-boat had been hoisted
at the davits, followed after. The captain now intimated that he was
ready to take command of the vessel, and Harry assumed the duties of
executive, while Jackson modestly took his place with the other watch
officers. They all heard what the major said, and laughed at it, but
they were by no means in as good spirits as they pretended to be. They
wished he and his men had stayed away a little longer. The navy had
heavy odds to contend against, and some of the officers thought their
rivals stood an excellent chance of snatching from their grasp the
honors they had hoped to win by their cruise after the pirates. Major
Williams was working for promotion, and he possessed a decided
advantage over the captain, having a tug and two companies of infantry
under his command. More than that, there was another tug in pursuit of
the Crusoe men, having on board the principal, Mr. Newcombe, Mr. Henry,
two constables, and two more companies of infantry under Spencer, the
ranking captain. The commander of the Storm King was not so much afraid
of Williams as he was of Spencer. The former, if he found himself in
need of advice, could consult only with his officers and the captain of
the tug, while Spencer's movements would be directed by the "brains" of
the academy.

"We must look to our laurels now," said Captain Steele. "Have you any
thing to propose? Shall we go out to sea, or stay in the bay?"

"Let us remain here, by all means," replied the first lieutenant, who
had talked the matter over with Johnny. "My idea is, that we ought to
begin a thorough search of these islands. Tom isn't foolish enough to
keep on out to sea now, for it is nearly daylight."

The captain thought the suggestion a good one, and he proceeded to act
upon it. Deer Island came first on the list, and, by the time the sun
arose, he had sailed around it without discovering any signs of the
Crusoe band. "Now comes the creek," said he. "Mr. Green, have the
jolly-boat called away, and send Mr. Jackson aft."

"I'd like to go with him, Bill," said Johnny.

"You won't see any comfort if you do. The jolly-boat can't seat more
than three fellows."

"I don't care for comfort. If you will let Jackson take me as far as the
shore I will get out and walk."

"Go ahead, and I will tell him to call you whe