And yet, why had they gone? Was it possible that men from other warships had come up and captured his beloved ship and made prisoners of all on board.
He looked back of him, and saw Hang Chang, the Chinese captain who had expected to inspect the Holland, coming slowly toward him.
"Is something wrong?" questioned the Celestial.
"The boat—it must have sunk," said Oscar. He knew not what to say.
At this the second yellow commander plucked his companion by the sleeve.
"Perhaps he has no boat," he whispered in Chinese. "It may be a ruse. He may have been deceiving Captain Gresson."
At this Hang Chang shrugged his bony shoulders.
"It may be so. Yet the English captain must know him, or all would not have gone so smoothly in the cabin."
In the meantime, Oscar was straining his eyes as never before, in his search for the Holland.
What was that? A tiny ray of light, shooting up from the dark green depths of the ocean. It was the Holland XI., moving silently and slowly to her old position under the stern. Soon she came up and the trap-door opened noiselessly.