“The cowardly traitor!” exclaimed Jack, when she concluded. “I should like to have got my hands on him!”
“He will bother no one else,” said Frank simply.
A moment later Captain Johnson emerged from Lord Hastings’ cabin. Before leaving the Sylph he again approached Frank and shook hands with him.
“If I can ever be of service to you,” he said, on taking his departure, “command me. I shall never forget that your bravery alone saved me from putting an innocent girl to death!”
Frank thanked the gallant commander, and the latter disappeared over the side with a backward wave of his hand.
Soon the Sylph was under way again, speeding swiftly toward the far distant western horizon. For a long time, Alice Beulow, Frank and Jack leaned over the rail of the little cruiser, gazing at the swiftly passing greenish water. Then the three were summoned to Lord Hastings’ cabin.
The commander of the Sylph, still propped up in bed, greeted Frank with a smile, and, beckoning the lad to him, gave his hand a hearty clasp, in spite of his apparent feebleness.
“Captain Johnson has told me of your gallant action aboard the Alto,” he said; “and I add my praise to his. It was a brave deed.”
Frank passed the compliment off modestly, and Lord Hastings continued:
“I shall see that your conduct does not go unrewarded. But what I summoned you all here to say is that we are returning to London.”