“But what sort of a shock?” inquired Miss Grandiere.
“Susannah, you were always inquisitor-general. Mrs. Force heard suddenly that a friend of ours, young Roland Bayard, had been taken prisoner under exceptional circumstances.”
“What circumstances?” persisted the inquisitor.
The old skipper heaved a deep sigh, and as briefly as he could, told the story of Roland’s double capture, first by the Argente, that took the Kitty, and afterward by the Eagle, that took the Argente, and he added, without reserve, the circumstances of Capt. Silver’s alleged claim upon Roland, which sealed the lips of the latter.
“Roland the pirate’s son! Why, he is no more Silver’s son than he is mine!” exclaimed young Sam.
“But, now tell us how it was that you found us so soon?”
“Well,” said Sam, “to begin at the beginning: On Monday morning we got your telegram saying that you had all arrived safe, and that Uncle Gideon was along with you, and you would be with us in a few days. Naturally we were all rejoiced and we waited for you. But on Wednesday morning we got the New York papers, telling all about the capture of the Argente by the Eagle, and the arrival of the Argente under command of Lieut. Force, and of the prize being ordered to the navy yard here!”
“And it did not need one to rise from the dead to reveal the fact that we should all come directly to this city to meet Le!” put in Wynnette.
“No, it didn’t!” assented Sam.
“And so I offered to come up and see you. And Aunt Dolly and Aunt Sukey said they would come, too. So I harnessed the two strongest draft horses to the old carryall, and we set out yesterday morning. We got as far as Horsehead last night, and put up there for the night. This morning we started early, and reached the city about noon. First, like a fool, I drove my party to your sometime house at the West End. Found it was all turned into public offices. Then we went the rounds of the hotels and now at last we have found you.”