le farther there were a couple more gleams higher up, as of distant
stars.

"That's all right, gentlemen. Now, Mr Rodd, sir, I haven't answered
your question. Here's just enough breeze blowing to make me alter my
plans, so after a bit we'll step the mast again and have the sail ready
for hoisting, for we shall be able, with the lights to guide us, to sail
close up under the farther shore and come down again from just the way
they don't expect, run the boat alongside our schooner, and then one on
us will hold on by the boat-hook, while with the rest it's all aboard,
and the schooner's ours."

That night seemed to Rodd almost as long, at times longer than the one
he had passed in the tree. But here it certainly was shorter, as he
afterwards declared, for about a couple of hours before daylight Joe
whispered his belief that they had none of them heard the slightest
sound from the direction of the lights, that if any one on board the
schooner's deck would be sleeping it would be then, and that they must
start at once.

There was no question of all being ready, and at the whispered orders
Harry Briggs hauled softly upon the grapnel line, while very slowly and
silently the yard ran up the little mast, and the boat began to careen
over as the sail filled.

Then with Joe Cross at the tiller she began to glide up-stream, the
grapnel was lifted on board without a sound, and silently and steadily
they began to cross the river diagonally till they were as near as the
steersman dared lay the little craft to the farther shore.

Under his skilful management all went well, and so silently that nothing
but the faint pattering lap of the water against the bows could be
heard.

To the two lads, though, that sounded unusually loud, as they crouched
down involuntarily but quite unnecessarily lower and lower in the boat
lest they should be seen, the light hoisted in each schooner seeming
bound to show the white sail to the watch of each vessel in turn.

But no alarm was raised; not a sound reached the adventurers, and to
Rodd it seemed as if, after terrible periods of agony, three heavy loads
had been lifted from his breast. He wanted to whisper a few words to
Morny, who all through had been seated by his side, but nothing but the
pressure of hand upon arm passed between them, while they could hardly
hear the doctor breathe.

At last, though, that period of the terrible suspense was at an end, and
the third light they had passe