d their escape before the tugs could get ready to start in
pursuit; but now he was satisfied that the chase would soon be over. He
was sure that the yacht would capture the pirate, and he wished that he
was on board to assist the students; and, being ignorant of the fact
that Harry knew more about what had been going on than he did, he wanted
to tell him that there were two desperate characters on board the
schooner, that they had robbed Mr. Henry's store of seven thousand
dollars, and that they were armed with revolvers. He stood up in his
skiff, and shouted at the top of his voice, to attract the attention of
the students; but they were too far off to hear him. Then he filled away
in pursuit of the yacht; but she ran away from him very easily, and
finally disappeared in the darkness.

"The robbers will be caught, anyhow," soliloquized Johnny, "and it will
make no great difference whether I am there or not. If the Sweepstakes
comes down the narrows, Harry Green will cut her off; and if she goes
around the head of the island, she will run against some of the tugs.
Tom won't give up as long as he sees the least chance for escape, and if
he finds that he is likely to be captured, he will desert his vessel and
take to the woods. He can't go ashore with his schooner, on the main
land, for the water is so shallow that, after his vessel grounded, he
would have to swim about half a mile. Tom is too lazy to do that, and
besides, if he were to attempt it, he might be picked up by the
jolly-boat. His only chance will be to land on Block Island, and perhaps
he will go back to that harboring place he told me about. That's the
very idea!" added Johnny, excitedly, striking his knee with his clenched
hand. "There is just where Tom will go if he is cornered. He will think
that because he has lived there a week without being discovered, he can
do it again."

As these thoughts passed through Johnny's mind he came about and started
for the island. When he reached it he drew the bow of his skiff upon the
beach, and, clambering up the cliff, ran toward the shoals. Little
dreaming how near he was to the object of his search, he stopped within
a few feet of the head of the path that led into the cove, and strained
his eyes through the darkness, in the hope of discovering the Storm King
or the schooner. But they were nowhere to be seen, and he was about to
start on again when his steps were arrested by a faint shout which
seemed to come up fr