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Rh them, it will be best for the present not to show ourselves."

"How's that?" demanded Giles Borden. "It's a bloody shame to let them go in this fashion."

"If they see us, they'll know we are after them and they'll sail away as fast as possible," went on our hero. "If they don't see us, they may take their time in getting away, and that will give us so much better chance to catch them."

"Dave is right!" cried the senator's son. And the others agreed with him, and all kept concealed behind the row of palms and the brushwood and rocks. From that point they watched the small boat gradually approach the schooner until it was alongside. Then a rope ladder was lowered and the passengers mounted to the deck, after which the rowboat was drawn up on the davits.

"What ship is that?" asked Phil.

"She is named the Aurora," answered Giles Borden.

"The Aurora!" exclaimed Billy Dill. "Do ye mean the Aurora, Cap'n Jack Hunker?"

"Yes, that's the captain's name."

"Why, I know him!" went on the old tar. "Sailed with him once, in the Peter Cass,—afore he took command o' the Aurora. Say, Dave, he used to be a putty good man. I can't see how he