hands and knees in the skiff, which, in a moment more, was
flying down the harbor with the speed of the wind. He heard the
anchor-watch pronounce his name. He knew when the officer of the deck
came forward, and he would have been willing to give any thing he
possessed could he have been in a position to see the lieutenant's face
and hear what he had to say about it. He knew when the order was given
to lower the jolly-boat, and distinctly heard the rattle calling the
crew to quarters. On the whole, he was well satisfied with what he had
done. He had caused a great commotion among the students and thoroughly
alarmed them, even if the fire he had kindled in the galley failed to
destroy the yacht.

"You had better hurry up, governor," said Tom, with a calmness that
astonished his companions. "That jolly-boat will be after us almost
immediately."

"Give way, strong," commanded the chief. "Cap'n, there's my hand. I have
put you down fur a coward more 'n once since I made your acquaintance,
but I confess that I didn't know any thing about you."

Tom accepted the governor's hand, and proudly listened to the
congratulations of the Crusoe men. He laughed when he thought how nicely
and easily he had accomplished his work, snapped his fingers in the air,
and acted altogether like one demented. He listened for the sounds of
pursuit, and presently heard the measured dip of oars behind.

"The jolly-boat is coming, Sam," said he. "And there goes the
fire-alarm," he added, as the yacht's bell began tolling rapidly. "They
can't save her, for there's too much coal-oil in the galley. Now, men,
listen to me. When we reach the vessel Xury will go to the wheel; Jack
Spaniard will make the skiff fast to the stern; Friday will cast off the
line; and Atkins and the governor will shove off. Be lively, now, for
the sooner we get out of Newport the better it will be for us."

The Crusoe men were well aware of that fact, and Tom's orders being
strictly carried out, the Sweepstakes was got under way very speedily.
But, just as the wind filled the sails, and she began to move through
the water, Xury discovered their pursuers.

"Stand by, governor," he exclaimed. "Here comes them spooneys."

Sam looked over the stern and saw the jolly-boat swiftly approaching the
schooner.

CHAPTER XII.

HOW IT RESULTED.

When the crew of the Storm King saw the flames coming out of the
fore-hatchway, and learned from the anchor watch that Tom Newco