“No, the jug will be heavy. Let Slippery Joe fetch the water,” commanded the captain. So Slippery Joe went forth. “We others will examine the treasure,” said the captain. The remaining four, Charlie, Kenneth, Mary, and Sue, sat down on the ground and began to unpack the baskets which had come in the boat. And as they unwrapped one after another of the good things, they smacked their lips and squealed with delight. They were so interested in the treasure that they forgot all about their prisoners. But suddenly they heard a shout from outside the cave:—
“Catch him! He’s running away!”
The pirates jumped to their feet. Mrs. Thornton was bending over the fire, doing things with the coffee-pot, and Aunt Clare was taking the lobsters to pieces. But Mr. Thornton had disappeared.
Bulldog Bill and his men rushed to the door echoing the shout of “Catch him! catch him!” When they were outside they saw the four other pirates racing along the beach towards the spot where the runaway was disappearing over the top of the cliff. The whole band started in pursuit, leaving Mama and Aunt Clare quite alone; so that these prisoners might have escaped, too, had they tried. But they were so interested in preparing dinner that they forgot all about it. Just like women!
After a long time the pirates returned, flushed, panting, and tired, but without their prisoner.
“Papa ran so fast we could not catch him,” explained Rose to her Mama. “He ran away into the woods, and we couldn’t find him. Oh, Mama! I’m afraid now he won’t be here for dinner!” Rose looked distressed.
“Silence, Burly Ben!” said the captain sternly. “This is no fit talk for one of Bulldog Bill’s bloody band!—My! how good that cocoa smells! Is dinner almost ready, Aunt Clare? I never was so hungry in my life. Can’t I have just one little lobster claw to chew?”
Aunt Clare had not spread the tablecloth in the cave, for that would have been too dark and too crowded for every one to be comfortable. But the flat rock out in front of the cave made a fine table, with room for every one to sit cross-legged around it in pirate fashion. Each person had a big, round scallop-shell for a plate, with a tin cup of cocoa beside it, and such a lovely luncheon was spread on the white cloth as the little Prouts at least had never before seen. They all sat down together, prisoners and pirates, and the pirates forgot for a time that they were anything but hungry girls and boys.
“It is too bad that Papa isn’t here,” said Mrs. Thornton.
“Too bad!” echoed Kenneth and Rose sorrowfully.