Of course the students were kind enough to do it, and they did do it as soon as they had satisfied themselves that he was not a member of Tom's band. He was not required to enter into any lengthy explanation, for the first lieutenant was in a great hurry to finish the work so well begun; and, besides, the fact that the fisher-boy was bound hand and foot, was sufficient evidence that he had not assisted in the capture of the vessel, and that he had been brought there against his will.
"No time to talk, fellows," said the first lieutenant. "How many of them are there, Jennings?"
"Only five, now that Tom is a prisoner," replied Bob, picking up the spear that the governor had used during the fight, and making some feeble attempts to stand on his feet.
"Only five!" repeated Harry, in astonishment. "Eighteen fellows whipped in a fair fight by one-third of their number! Boys, I think this will be our first and last cruise in the Storm King. That is bad evidence to be brought up against us."
"But it wasn't a fair fight," said one of the crew. "They were armed and we were not."
"Well, they whipped us, anyhow," said the lieutenant, "and now we must whip them. Stand by to board with a loud cheer! Board!"
The students, yelling at the top of their lungs, sprang up the ladder, and gained the deck without meeting any of the enemy. The members of the Crusoe band were so fully occupied in navigating the vessel, that they had not noticed Tom's absence from the deck, and the noise of the storm had drowned all sounds of what had been going on in the cabin.
When the first lieutenant reached the top of the ladder, he stopped, appalled by the scene presented to his gaze. The storm was increasing in fury every moment, the lightning flashed almost incessantly, rendering objects about the harbor as plainly visible as if it had been daylight, and the wind howled as fiercely as ever. By some streak of luck which the lieutenant could not understand, and which would not have attended him again had he attempted the same feat, Xury had succeeded in piloting the vessel safely through the harbor; and when the students reached the deck, she was on the point of entering the bay.
Harry had witnessed many a tempest, both at sea and on shore, and as he began to regard himself as quite an accomplished sailor, he was disposed to make light of storms that were really terrific. But he had nothing to say about this one. He had never seen such waves in Newport Bay, neither had he ever seen a vessel so badly handled as was the Storm King. The mainsail, close reefed, was the only canvas hoisted, but that was altogether too much for her; besides, Xury was becoming frightened, and managed the wheel with very unsteady hands. Sometimes the sail would feel the full force of the gale, and the yacht would roll down almost to her beam ends; then Xury would "luff" until the sail was shaking in the wind, when he would fill away again. Harry took this all in at a glance. He dared not hesitate long, for he saw the necessity of prompt action.
"Richardson!" he shouted, turning to one of the midshipmen, "take two men to the wheel, and put her about at once. Forward! and clear the deck of these pirates."