e Nark and the
boys, while the others had swung about him in a half-circle, barring
the way. Seeing an attempt to flee would be futile, he pulled himself
together, not without dignity, and faced Captain Folsom and Lieutenant
Summers. It was to the former that he addressed himself.

"You've caught me," he said. "The game is up."

He folded his arms.

"What does this mean?" demanded Lieutenant Summers, taking a hand in
the proceedings. "Captain, who is this man?"

"That fellow Higginbotham, about whom I told you," said Captain Folsom
in an aside. "The man who escaped from the Brownell place."

"Ah." Lieutenant Summers saw the light. He addressed Higginbotham
sternly:

"You and your men, masquerading in the uniforms of officers and
sailors of the U. S. N.," he said. "You will pay heavily for this, my
man. Such masquerade is severely punished by the government."

Higginbotham started to reply, but Frank had an idea. Not waiting to
hear what the other had to say, he impulsively stepped forward and
plucked Captain Folsom's sleeve.

"That man is trying to delay us, Captain," he whispered. "I am sure of
it. He wants the men in the small boat to escape. I'll bet, sir," he
said excitedly, "that whoever is in that boat is the Man Higher Up
whom you are so anxious to capture."

Captain Folsom was struck by the cogency of Frank's reasoning. Signing
to him to fall back, he whispered to Lieutenant Summers. The latter
listened, then nodded. He stood silent a moment, thinking.

"I have it," he said. "We'll call another boat from the Nark to go to
the assistance of young Hampton."

Placing a whistle to his lips, he blew a shrill blast. A hail came
from Jackson, second in command of the Nark, at once. Lieutenant
Summers ordered his assistant to come aboard with four men. Waiting
the arrival of the other boat, Frank and Bob grew fidgetty and spoke
in whispers, while the two officers questioned Higginbotham in low
voices.

"All right," said Frank to Bob, "I'll ask him."

Approaching the officers, he stood where Captain Folsom's eyes fell
upon him, and the latter, seeing he wanted a word with him, stepped
aside.

"Captain," said Frank, eagerly, "Bob and I feel that we have got to go
to help Jack. Can't you persuade Lieutenant Summers to let us
accompany the party?"

The other smiled slightly, then once more whispered to Lieutenant
Summers. The latter looked at Frank, and nodded. Frank fell back to
Bob's side, content.