"Everything, sir," returned the two, following him along the shore.
"Who's that?" cautioned one of the men, looking ahead.
They hid hastily, for there was Elaine. She had seen the three and was about to level her glass in their direction as they hid. Finally she turned and discovered the steamer. As she moved toward it, Del Mar and the others came out from behind a rock and stole after her.
Elaine wandered on until she came to the dock. No one paid any attention to her, apparently, and she made her way along the dock and even aboard the boat without being observed.
No sooner had she got on the boat, however, than Del Mar and his men appeared on the dock and also boarded the steamer.
The captain was still explaining to the men just how the drag-hook worked when Elaine came up quietly on the deck. She stood spellbound as she heard him outline the details of the plot. Scarcely knowing what she did, she crouched back of a deckhouse and listened.
Behind her, Del Mar and his men came along, cat-like. A glance was sufficient to tell them that she had overheard what the captain was saying.
"Confound that girl!" ground out Del Mar. "Will she always cross my path? We'll get her this time!"
The men scattered as he directed them. Sneaking up quietly, they made a sudden rush and seized her. As she struggled and screamed, they dragged her off, thrusting her into the captain's cabin and locking the door.
"Cast off!" ordered Del Mar.