ed their bed the preceding night.

"It's hard telling," replied Arno, creeping forward and peering through
the little opening. "I can see the Petrel, and Captain Dilke is at the
bow."

At the mention of this name, Jason trembled, and shortly after Arno
announced that the schooner was close alongside.

Then they heard the sail flapping, and knew that the sloop had been
brought up to the wind, and presently there was a shock, as though some
heavy body had bumped against the Swan.

"It's all up with us," said Arno, leaving the little port-hole and
casting himself down beside his companion.

The trampling of heavy feet sounded upon the deck, the sides of the
vessels grated together as they rose and fell with the motion of the
water, and down in the little hold of the sloop the two boys lay and
waited tremblingly.

CHAPTER XVIII.

An Unexpected Catastrophe.

If Captain Dilke feared that the Swan would endeavor to escape, he was
entirely mistaken. As the two vessels drew near together, he was greatly
surprised to see Sandy and Shaky instead of Arno and Jason.

Sandy was at the tiller of the Swan and Martin held the wheel of the
Petrel.

Stifling his curiosity, Captain Dilke gave his orders, and soon the two
vessels lay side by side, Shaky making the sloop fast to the schooner.

Then Captain Dilke leaped on board the Swan, leaving Martin on the
Petrel, both vessels drifting with the wind.

"How did you come in possession of this craft?" demanded Captain Dilke,
striding aft to where Sandy stood.

The Scotchman made no answer, and Captain Dilke repeated his question.

At this moment some one grasped him by the arm, and, turning, he met the
angry gaze of Judith.

Vainly he strove to break away. Her arms were like bands of steel, and
pinioned his own close to his side.

Then he was thrown to the deck, a handkerchief tied over his mouth by
the Scotchman and his arms and legs bound with a stout cord, rendering
his struggles utterly useless.

After this he was half-dragged down the companion-way and left, lying
helpless, upon the cabin floor.

While this was transpiring on board the Swan, Shaky had boarded the
Petrel.

Martin greeted him surlily, as he came aft.

"What's the row on the sloop?" asked Martin. "I heard a scuffle of some
kind, but couldn't see what was going on from here."

"Nothing," replied Shaky, his grimacing and stammering having deserted
him entirely, "only