They had not long to wait, before the boat bearing Jackson and four
men from the Nark nosed up to their own craft at the landing stage,
and Jackson reported to his commander on deck.

"Jackson," Lieutenant Summers said to his young petty officer, "I want
you to take command here with your four men. Disarm these fellows. I
do not believe they will show trouble, but it will be well to let them
know right at the start that the Nark has them under her guns. I am
going to young Hampton's assistance."

Jackson saluted, and called his men aboard. Without more ado,
Lieutenant Summers, who was in haste to be off, turned to descend to
the boat when once more Frank halted him:

"We are unarmed, Lieutenant," he said.

"Ah. Just a moment. Jackson!"

"Yes, sir."

"I shall order these men to give up their weapons. Stand ready, and
keep them covered. Now, my men," he added, addressing the crew; "I am
going to place you under arrest. I want you to advance one at a time
and submit to being searched and disarmed. I warn you to submit
without resistance, for if you do not, the Nark yonder has orders to
open fire, and you cannot escape. Now, one at a time."

Sullenly, unwillingly, but overawed, the men advanced. While the
sailors from the Nark kept their automatics in their hands, ready for
action, Jackson searched each man in businesslike fashion. The weapons
thus taken away--regulation automatics, as well as a miscellaneous
assortment of brass knuckles and a few wicked daggers, all marking the
men as city toughs--were placed in a heap. Before the work had been
completed, Lieutenant Summers, anxious to depart, signed to the boys
to arm themselves. They complied.

"Now, let us go," said he.

The boys and their two young sailor companions tumbled into the
outside boat, while Captain Folsom and Lieutenant Summers delayed for
another word with Jackson. Then, they, too, descended. The oars
dipped, and the boat sped away.

All this had taken only a very short space of time. However, the boat
bearing the fugitives no longer could be seen, although that carrying
Jack--or, at least, what they took to be his boat--was still offshore,
though close to it. It looked like a little dark blot some distance
ahead, nearing the landward base of the peninsula. On that horn of
land, all felt assured, the fugitives had landed, and along it were
making their way to shore.

Jack's boat now reached the shore. Lieutenant Summers, gazing through
the