never met
Johnny before, but still Josh and Bill would not be convinced. "You
see," said the former, "it does not follow that you ain't one of the
robbers because we did not see you with them. If you had nothing to do
with what has been going on here for the last week, what were you
sneaking around the farm for? That's what I want to know."

"I wasn't sneaking around at all," replied Johnny, impatiently. "I was
going about my business openly and above board, and I didn't care who
saw me. I was looking for the men who stole Mr. Henry's money."

"Now, that's a funny story, aint it? A boy like you wouldn't be in any
hurry to put himself in the way of two robbers, armed with revolvers. We
are going back to the cove, and we shall take you with us. The men folks
are all out looking for Jed, and we are too sharp to leave you long in
the house with nobody but women to watch you."

"Wouldn't it be a good plan to obtain a little more assistance?" asked
Johnny. "If you will collect half a dozen men, you can capture every one
of those fellows if they come back."

"That's just what we intend to do," replied Josh, "but I think we three
can manage them, and watch you besides."

"But you forget the robbers."

Josh smiled and shrugged his shoulders, intimating very plainly that he
was not yet prepared to believe that the robbers existed, only in
Johnny's imagination. "If you will agree not to make any fuss we won't
gag you," said he.

That was something gained, and Johnny readily gave the required promise.
Although his hands were still bound behind his back, his captors seemed
to be very much afraid of him, and during the walk to the cove they
kept a firm hold of his arms, and looked about them suspiciously, as if
they every instant expected to be called upon to resist an attempt on
the part of the Crusoe men to rescue their prisoner.

But Johnny _was_ released; not by the governor and his band, however,
but by the crew of the Storm King, and Josh and Bill never once thought
of offering any resistance to them.

It did not take Harry Green long to come to some conclusion respecting
the mysterious disappearance of the pirate vessel, and, after his
conversation with the boatswain's mate, he astonished his second
lieutenant with an order to call away a company of small-armed men.
While the jolly-boat was being lowered, the plucky midshipman
Richardson, who commanded the company, reported for orders, and was
instructed to go asho