“Dave is right!” cried the senator’s son. And the others agreed with him, and all kept concealed behind the row of palms and the brushwood and rocks. From that point they watched the small boat gradually approach the schooner until it was alongside. Then a rope ladder was lowered and the passengers mounted to the deck, after which the rowboat was drawn up on the davits.
“What ship is that?” asked Phil.
“She is named the Aurora,” answered Giles Borden.
“The Aurora!” exclaimed Billy Dill. “Do ye mean the Aurora, Cap’n Jack Hunker?”
“Yes, that’s the captain’s name.”
“Why, I know him!” went on the old tar. “Sailed with him once, in the Peter Cass,—afore he took command o’ the Aurora. Say, Dave, he used to be a putty good man. I can’t see how he would stand in with sech fellers as Jasniff an’ them thievin’ Britishers.”
“Perhaps he doesn’t know what scoundrels they are,” returned our hero.
“Oh, they haven’t told him the truth, depend upon that,” said Giles Borden. “They have fixed up some story to pull the wool over his eyes. Most likely they’ll tell him that I am the rascal of the party and that is why I am to be left behind.”
“If the captain of the Aurora is all right, it may pay to signal to him,” mused Dave. “I wish I had known of this before.”
“See! see! they are hoisting the sails!” cried Phil.