The six men thus arrested were forced inside a ring of the fishermen, whose numbers had been greatly increased by new arrivals. Powell Seaton, his shot-gun on his shoulder, now patrolled close to the human ring. Three or four men hurried with Tom and Joe on a quest for Anson Dalton and the latter’s companion in flight.
In less than a quarter of an hour one of the messengers who had first hurried away returned with a deputy sheriff, who brought several pairs of handcuffs. A justice of the peace was aroused at his home, and held the prisoners over for trial, after Powell Seaton had preferred against them a charge of stealing the yacht that was under his charter.
The search for Dalton and his companion was given up, for it became plain that both had succeeded in their effort to get away.
“It’s altogether too bad,” sighed Mr. Seaton, on coming out of the justice’s house. “However, we can be thankful for what success we have had. We have the boat back and have balked Dalton’s rascals in what they were planning for to-night.”
“Are you going back to Lonely Island now, sir?” asked Captain Tom. 80
“We must, very soon,” replied Mr. Seaton. “Yet, Halstead, I’ve been thinking that I cannot afford to take any further chances, with Anson Dalton still at large. These fishermen are a rough but honest lot of splendid fellows in their way. I’m going to see if I can’t hire a special guard of eight men for Lonely Island for the present. I’ll engage the deputy sheriff to vouch for the men I engage. So go down to the boat and be ready for me as soon as I arrive.”
Joe was aboard, waiting, when the young skipper returned. Several of the men of the village were still about the dock.
“We’re to be ready to cast off as soon as Mr. Seaton gets here, Joe,” Captain Tom Halstead announced. “Better look to your motors. If you want any help, call on me.”
It did not take Mr. Seaton very long to recruit the guard of eight men that he wanted. Carrying rifles or shot-guns, borrowed in some instances, the men tramped along after their new employer. They came aboard, two or three of them going below, the others preferring to remain on deck.
“Cast off, Captain, as soon as you can,” directed Powell Seaton.