THE WAY OUT FOUND
The men scrambled out of the boats and on deck as soon as they had the boys' permission, and for a minute or two there was the liveliest sort of fracas on the deck and in the cabin of the Circe, but this shortly ceased, and the mate coming to the side leaned over and said:
"We've got 'em! They put up a fight, but everything is dead against them. This is our company's vessel, and we've found enough unstamped stuff in the cabin to give 'em a good long rest in jail. We've got Davis, the captain, but the other fellow is over on the other shore, unless he has made his escape by this time. Come on board, boys."
The boys quickly accepted the invitation, and went on board where they found Davis and his men prisoners.
There was not a large crew, and some of them had been asleep at the time of the surprise, these being captured before they knew what was going on.
"Go aboard with the boys and all the men you need," said the captain to the mate. "I am going with the pilot. Follow us and do exactly as we do. I've got this fellow under my thumb. He knows he'll get a good long term for smuggling, but I can get some of it taken off if he pilots us out, and I've promised him to do my best for him. It'll be as hard as finding a needle in a haystack to get a pilot and we have him, so what's the use of looking?"
"Quite right, sir."
The captain stood in the pilot house with a pistol at the head of the pilot, and told him to give his orders, and to give wrong ones at his peril.
"If you sink us you'll sink yourself," he added, "so mind your chart and steer straight."
"All right, Captain," said the other. "I'll do as you say. I am not over fond of Davis, who has done me many a dirty turn, and as for Rollins, there is no more trusting him than there is a wolf, and I shall be glad to be shut of both of them and the business at the same time."
The boats were sent back to the yacht, which was put in charge of the first officer, and followed in the wake of the Circe.
In this case she proved to be worthier of trust than her beautiful namesake of the days of Ulysses, and she not only made her way safely out through the tortuous channel among the reefs, but led the yacht with the boys on board to the open water outside.
More than once as Captain Storms saw the waters bubbling and boiling around them, and saw how close they were to the rocks he thought that they were doomed, but as he watched the face of the pilot he saw that the man was to be trusted, and held his peace.
When they were outside, and a great cheer went up from the Hilltop boys, they proceeded to the end of the island in search of the cutter and at last saw her smoke in the distance.
Sending her a wireless message they at length had the satisfaction of seeing her approach, and at last the captain came on board and the Circe and her crew were turned over to him, Storms saying:
"Look out for the pilot. He is not as bad as the rest, and deserves some consideration on account of getting us out of a bad scrape. Have you caught Rollins?"
"No, he was too quick for us, and slipped away, but we'll catch him yet."
"I doubt if you do. However, never mind that. I'll put you in charge here and will go back to my own vessel."
He had been back in his own cabin but a short time, receiving the congratulations of the doctor and the boys when the man on the lookout reported a vessel in the offing, which flew the company's flag, and seemed to be familiar to many of the officers and men.
"That's the ship that Smith has sent to get us out," laughed Storms, "and we've got ahead of him, and got out ourselves."
He was correct, for in half an hour the newcomer was alongside and in a moment Mr. Smith himself was over the side and grasping his son, Jesse W., in his arms.
"But how is this?" he asked. "I thought you could not get out. Did you do this for a joke so that you could see me?"
"No, indeed, sir," said young Smith. "We have not been away from the island more than an hour or two, and it is to Jack Sheldon that you owe your getting out. Come here, Jack, I want to introduce you to my father."
"I am pleased to see you, sir," said Jack, coming up. "I am afraid that Jesse W. gives me too much credit, although I am willing to take a little of it. Captain Storms deserves the greater part of it, however."
Mr. Smith held a consultation with the captain of the revenue cutter, and an arrangement was shortly made between them whereby the Circe was to be in the government's custody for a time, and then to be turned over to her owners.
The whole story was told and Jack, Dick, and many of the boys came in for their meed of praise from Mr. Smith, as well as from Dr. Wise and the captain.
Mr. Smith had not found a pilot who could take him through the reefs to Lost Island, as they all still called it, but his chagrin was greatly tempered by seeing his son and all the boys safe out of their island prison, and he complimented Jack on all that he had done, and said:
"My dear boy, I have already promised my son to look after your interests, and you need have no fear that they will be thoroughly attended to."
"I am much obliged to you, sir," replied Jack, blushing, "but I am glad to have found such good friends. I want to say a few words in behalf of your son, and am only expressing the sentiments of the majority of the boys when I tell you that he is a plucky little chap, and a credit to the Hilltop Academy. I trust that we may long have him with us."
"Hurrah for Jesse W., boys, give him a rouser!" cried Percival, and they were given with a will.
Mr. Smith went back to the relief vessel, the cutter took away her prize, and by night the vessels had all parted company, Jesse W. Smith's father to return to New York, and the yacht to proceed on her cruise, which, although somewhat shortened as to route, was to continue until the time originally set as to its duration.
The cruise was a most pleasant one, and the boys learned much while it lasted, and were sorry when it ended, and they set out for the north and the Academy in the highlands.
Later the Circe was turned over to its owners, and a share of the reward for its recovery put to Jack's account in the bank, much to his surprise, as well as satisfaction.
The man with the white mustache, who was one of the boldest of the smugglers, had made his escape, whither he had gone no one could tell, but Jack's only interest in the man was to hope that he would keep away on account of his mother, to whom he related nothing concerning his meetings with the man, either at the Academy or in the tropics.
"I do not wish her to think of him," he said to Percival, "and I do not wish to think of him myself. Never mention him, Dick."
"You may be sure I won't!" replied Dick with emphasis.
There were some of the boys who did not escape seasickness on the way back, for all they had been on the water so long, but the run home was, on the whole, most pleasant, and Jack, Dick, young Smith and some others enjoyed it thoroughly.
"We shall have enough to think of and to talk about for a long time," remarked Jack to Percival when they were at last on the train going back to the Highlands, "and it is all the better that the trip was not what it was originally planned to be. The very unexpectedness of our adventures gave them all the greater charm."
"I suppose so," said Dick, "but I generally like to know what is coming, and then if I don't like it, I can get out of the way."
"Well, we are all of us richer in experience."
"And you in pocket," laughed Dick. "Don't forget that, my boy."
"Oh, I have something that is worth a good deal more than the money that I happened to get," said Jack, smiling.
"What is that?" asked Percival.
"The friendship of a lot of good fellows, and of one or two who are a good deal more than mere good fellows, real friends, in fact."
"Well, that is worth a good deal, of course, but it seems to me that one always has plenty of friends if he has money."
"If he keeps them when he has no money, then they are friends, indeed," said Jack, "and I think that I can count upon mine in any case."
"Then you are lucky, Jack."
For all that they had enjoyed themselves while afloat, the Hilltop boys were glad to be back at the Academy again among the old familiar scenes, and the work of the school went on with renewed vigor, Jack, in particular, giving his entire attention to it so as to be as high as possible in his classes at the end of the term.
The greater part of the boys at the Academy, as well as the doctor and all of the professors, were his friends, and the fact that some of the boys were not, and did all they could to injure him did not worry him, for he thought little or nothing of it.
At the end of the term he was at the head of his class, and was so close upon Percival that the latter said with a good-natured grin:
"You'll be up with me next term, Jack, whether I look out for myself or not."
"Well, we generally have pretty good times together, Dick," Jack replied, "so I don't think you will be sorry."
"Not a bit of it," said Dick.
Those who have been interested in following the fortunes of the Hilltop boys may be glad to continue their acquaintance with Jack Sheldon and his friends and enemies in the next volume, "The Hilltop Boys on the River," which, in addition to giving an account of many aquatic sports, contains also a number of thrilling incidents, which serve to bring out the characters of the boys to good advantage.
It was at the end of the term, and many of the boys were preparing to go home when Percival said to Jack:
"The doctor is going to let us have a summer camp for a few weeks. We are to live on the river, and have all the fun we want with the addition of some study, just to keep our hands in. What do you say, Jack? Will you stay over if I do?"
"I may stay in any event, Dick. I want to get on as fast as I can, and this will give me a chance."
"Then if you stay, so will I," heartily, "and between you and me you will find a lot more who will do it if they know you are to be here."
"The more the merrier," said Jack.