"Sing another verse, Johnny. That shove just took up the slack-line, and the next will pull on the anchor. Hun-now, Johnny! You're a real good sailor. Sing easy, but shove."
"He shipped on board of a whaler.
Chorus--O poor Reuben Ranzo!
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo!
O poor Reuben Ranzo!
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo!"
The last tug at the bar came hard, but the boys took it as an encouraging sign that the anchor too was coming. They were not mistaken. Another minute, and Johnny eagerly exclaimed,--
"Dick, I do believe she's going!"
"Good! That's so. I knew 'Reuben Ranzo' would bring her."
Yes, the Relentless had relented before the fascinating persuasion of "Reuben Ranzo," and without a murmur of resistance was softly slipping through the dark sea water.
"Can you stop her any time, Dick?" asked Johnny in tones a bit alarmed.
"Easy. Just let the anchor slip back again, you know."
"Shan't we tell the boys?"
"Wait a moment. We want to surprise 'em. They'll find it out pretty soon."