Wilson himself found it no easy task to reach the deck, but Stubbs came up the ladder as nimbly as a cat. The ship was unlighted from bow to stern, so that the men aboard her moved about like shadows. Wilson was rescued from the hold by Stubbs, who drew him back just as he was being shoved towards the hatch by one of the sailors. The next second he found himself facing a well-built shadow, who greeted Stubbs with marked satisfaction.
“By the Lord,” exclaimed the man, “you’ve done well, Stubbs. How many did you get in all?”
“Fifty––to a man.”
“They looked husky in the dark.”
“Yes, they’ve gut beef ’nuff––but that ain’t all that makes a man. Howsomever, they’re as good as I expected.”
Wilson gasped; the master of this strange craft was no other than Danbury!