ourselves. "I wonder
which. But I'm sure he was winged--he fell in a heap, didn't he, at
one of those shots? Of course, he'll take to these woods--and we've
got to get through them."

"Not yet!" said Miss Raven. "Look there!"

She pointed across the cove and beyond the bar, and I saw then that a
boat had been put off from the destroyer and was being pulled at a
rapid rate towards the line of surf which, under the deepening tide,
was now but a thin streak of white. It seemed to me that I could see
the glint of arms above the flash of the oars--anyway there was a
boat's crew of blue-jackets there.

"They're going to board her!" I exclaimed. "I wonder what they'll
find?"

"Dead men!" answered Miss Raven, quietly.

"What else? After all that shooting! I should think that man who's
just got away was the last."

"There was a man left on board who fired at him--and at whom he fired
back," I pointed.

"Yes--and who never fired again," she retorted. "They must all--oh!"

She interrupted herself with a sharp exclamation, and turning from
watching the blue-jackets and their boat I saw that she was staring at
the yawl. From its forecastle a black column of smoke suddenly shot
up, followed by a great lick of flame.

"Good heavens!" I exclaimed. "The yawl's on fire!"

I guessed then at what had probably happened. The man who had just
disappeared with his boat behind the spit of land further along the
cove had in all likelihood been one of two survivors of the fight
which had taken place in the early hours of the morning. He had wished
to get away by himself, had set fire to the yawl, and sneaked away in
the only boat, exchanging shots with the man left behind and probably
killing him with the last one. And now--there was smoke and flame
above what was doubtless a shambles.

But by that time the boat's crew from the destroyer had crossed the
bar and entered the cove and the vigorously impelled oars were
flashing fast in the sheltered waters. The boat disappeared behind the
drifting smoke that poured out of the yawl--presently we saw figures
hurrying hither and thither about her deck.

"They may be in time to get the fire under," I said. "Better, perhaps,
if they let the whole thing burn itself out. It would burn up a lot of
villainy."

"Here are people coming along the beach," remarked Miss Raven,
suddenly. "Look! They must have seen the smoke rising."

I turned in the direction in which she was looking, and saw, on