"By George!" he exclaimed suddenly.
"What's up?" asked Jack.
"Well," replied Frank, "I think I've got a plan that will save a lot of trouble."
"Let's hear it," said Williams.
"According to Jack's reasoning," said Frank, "we have little to fear from the pirates tonight."
"Right," said Jack. "What of it?"
"If your reasoning is good—and I believe it is," Frank continued, "why can't we make a sortie tonight and capture the estimable Captain Jack? That would settle the whole business. Pirates without a leader would be like a ship without a rudder. What do you think about it?"
Jack considered the plan carefully before vouchsafing a reply. At length he said:
"Your plan, Frank, has all the earmarks of being successful. I believe you have solved the problem."
"So do I," declared Williams.