Graff Miller now put in his oar:
“If we didn’t get a haul out of the measly post office we’ve scooped a mighty fine motor boat. We can sell it and gather in enough to last us till we crack another place.”
“That won’t be as easy as it looks to you. The whole neighborhood is up in arms and we shall have to lie low for awhile.”
“Well, we’ve got enough to keep us a week or so——Nox, there’s somebody in the boat with you!” exclaimed Miller, who that instant caught sight of the head of one of the crouching men. The craft was now so close that concealment was impossible. In fact, in the same moment that the Water Witch gently bumped against the other boat, Stockham Calvert and Warner Hagan straightened up and bounded across upon the Deerfoot. Each grasped a revolver, and Calvert shouted:
“Hands up, or I’ll let daylight through you.”
The terrified Woodford turned to run, but a bullet whistled past his ear. Perhaps too he realized in that frightful instant that no place of refuge awaited him. The island was too small to allow him to hide himself. He abruptly halted on the edge of the wood, and facing about sullenly raised his hands.
As for Graff Miller he did not attempt to get away. Accepting the order addressed to his leader as applying to himself, he stood stock still and seemed to be doing the best he could to keep the sky from falling on him.
Knowing that Hagan would look after him, Calvert gave his whole attention to Woodford. Keeping his revolver presented, he crossed the narrow deck of the Deerfoot and dropped lightly to the ground. A few steps took him to the cowardly ruffian. Never lowering his weapon, he ran the other hand over the outside of the man’s clothing and twitched a revolver from his hip pocket.
“That will do, Christopher; if you now feel an inclination to lower your dirty hands, you have my permission to do so. Perhaps it will not tire you quite so much.”
Hardly had he complied when a sharp click sounded. So quickly that it looked like a piece of magic a pair of handcuffs were snapped upon the miscreant, and Hagan was only a few seconds later in doing the same with his prisoner.