he
discover but Tom Newcombe, crawling along almost on his hands and knees,
and making all haste to get into the bushes out of sight. In his hand he
carried the valise containing the seven thousand dollars. Jackson and
his friends looked at him a moment, then at one another, and made a
simultaneous rush for the jolly-boat; and Johnny Harding was in so great
a hurry that he shoved the boat from the schooner, almost before the
others had time to jump into her.

"Oars! Let fall! Give way together!" commanded the lieutenant, in a
fever of excitement, as soon as the jolly-boat was clear of the bushes.
"Stand by to jump out, and give chase the instant we touch the bank."

"I don't think we'll have to give chase at all," said Johnny. "What's
the reason he doesn't run, I wonder? He is standing there in the bushes
looking at us. We're after you, Tom Newcombe!"

"O, now, what do you want with me?" drawled the captain of the Crusoe
band.

"We want you and that money, and we're bound to have you, too. It's all
up with you now."

"I can't see it. You had better keep off, for you will find me a
desperate man." As the skipper spoke he raised a club and shook it
threateningly at the boat's crew.

Tom's subsequent actions greatly surprised the lieutenant. Instead of
taking to his heels he removed his coat and hat, deliberately placed
them upon the ground beside the valise, rolled up his sleeves, tested
the strength of his club across his knee, and acted altogether as if he
were preparing for a desperate encounter. He kept one eye on the
jolly-boat all the while, and the moment she touched the bank, and
Johnny Harding sprang out, he caught up the valise and disappeared in
the bushes.

"What do you suppose he means?" asked Jackson. "Was he trying to
frighten us?"

"If he was, he didn't succeed," replied Johnny, hurriedly. "We've got
him at last. Tom never was much of a runner, and I'll agree to catch him
in two minutes by the watch. And for a sixpence I'll insure his capture
and the recovery of the money."

The boat's crew dashed into the bushes in pursuit of the flying skipper,
and before Johnny's two minutes had expired they were almost within
reach of him. A few steps more would have brought them near enough to
seize him by the collar, when, to their amazement, Tom suddenly dropped
the valise, faced about, and advanced furiously upon Johnny with
uplifted bludgeon; at the same instant Sam Barton and his band of
outlaws aro