"Gone. Take this," answered Harry, putting a life preserver around her.
"Now, will you jump or shall I throw you overboard? One, two, three."
"I'll jump," said Pauline and with arms around each other they leaped into the warm ocean. On went the white launch serene and unruffled by the desertion of its crew. In answer to Pauline's demand for explanation Harry only answered:
"Wait."
Finally it came.
A belch of flame shot up from the launch driving a column of smoke far into the sky, where it spread out and formed a majestic ring, which floated and curled for many moments. A concussion reached them through the water and another in the air smote their ears.
The after part of the launch rode on the waters for a moment and then disappeared. Finally a succession of waves tossed them and passed on.
"What does it mean?" gasped the girl.
"Insanity—sheer, downright insanity. That wretch of a 'pirate' was a crazy man.
"He placed that bomb, intending to kill all of us. And Owen deserves a sound thrashing for having anything to do with such a murderous lunatic."