the Crusoe men, and that he was alone,
and that, realizing his helplessness, and knowing that he could not
escape from so swift a runner as Johnny Harding, he had resorted to the
desperate expedient of trying to frighten the boat's crew. If the idea
of bringing them into an ambush originated with him, it was certainly
something for him to be proud of.

"What do you intend to do with us, Sam?" asked Johnny.

"We're just goin' to keep you with us, that's all," replied the
governor. "We aint quite foolish enough to let you go back to your
friends, 'cause they would come up here an' take our vessel, an' we want
to use her to-night. As soon as it comes dark we are goin' to start on
our cruise ag'in, an' when we are safe from the Storm King an' all the
tugs, we'll set you ashore on some island an' leave you to find your way
back to the village as best you can."

The day was a long one to the Crusoe men and their prisoners. They were
tired, hungry, sleepy, and thirsty. The creek flowed by within a hundred
yards of their concealment, but the governor had issued positive orders
that no one should venture near it. Who could tell but that some of the
students were sneaking about the island, or that the robbers were
concealed among the bushes on the opposite bank, watching for them? The
members of the band grumbled, as usual, but submitted--after Will
Atkins, who declared that he was going to have a drink of water whether
the governor was willing or not, had been taken down and thoroughly
shaken--and between sleeping and watching the long hours passed slowly
away. The lower the sun sank into the western horizon the longer the
hours seemed to grow; but night came at last, and when it had grown
quite dark, the governor picked up the valise, and gave the order to
start.

"Untie the prisoners' feet, fellers," said Sam, "an' let them walk to
the boat. When we get aboard the schooner we'll pitch into the grub an'
water, and then we'll be ready to start. Xury, you take charge of the
jolly-boat."

The Governor and Tom, the former holding fast to the valise, were first
carried across. They examined the schooner very closely before going on
board, but her deck was deserted, and there was no one in the cabin,
hold, or galley. The governor drew a long breath of relief. "There's no
arthly use in my sayin' that I aint afraid of them bugglars," said he,
"'cause I am. I thought sure we'd find 'em stowed away somewhere about
the schooner, but