The watchers did not hear, however, the rough jeer with which the man who rowed the accompanying boat greeted Tom. “So Bill’s got ye at last, has he? Ye’ll work fer him now or yer life won’t be safe. That’s yer ’nishiation, did ye know it?”
Tom was spared an answer by the rough order of the man whom he had brought from the cave. It was to the effect that this was his trip and that he wanted to get to land as quickly as possible. So did Tom.
The two boats bobbed over the waves and out of the bay to some mooring at the village. The boat load of young people watched, still keeping in the shadow of the rocks and discussing in low tones the likelihood of their being still watched, if at all, by the other boat which had come into the channel.
Then they heard the soft plash of oars. Startled, Jack braced himself for possible trouble and Peggy clutched Leslie again. The boat passed them, its occupant leaning to look in their direction. Then it shot back and a voice addressed them. “Why, it’s the Eyrie crowd, isn’t it?”
What a relief! It was only Mr. Tudor!
“My, how you scared us, Mr. Tudor!” cried Peggy. “How did you happen to get out here? Did you see that boat come out of the Cove?”
“Yes. It would seem that the old story is not true, yet I heard Miss Secrest tell it only to-day.”
“We’re going over. Don’t you want to go with us?”
“Peggy!” Leslie exclaimed. “Have we decided to go?”
“I have, unless you really hate to go.”