CHAPTER XV.
BOB A PRISONER.
The genuine Robinson Crusoe, when he discovered the foot-print on his island, was not more astonished than Sam Barton was at that moment; nor were the fears he experienced more terrible than those which flashed through the mind of the chief, when he received the astounding intelligence that Bob Jennings, instead of being at home and in bed, as his spy had reported, had been standing almost within reach of him, listening to every word he uttered. The fisher-boy had learned a secret which rendered him quite as dangerous to the governor as the cannibals were to Crusoe, and the safety of his band depended upon his ability to prevent him from returning to the upper world with the information he had gained.
"Hurry up there, lads!" whispered Sam, excitedly, as he sprang into the yawl and pushed it from the shore, "we can't catch him any too quick. But whatever you do, be careful about makin' a noise!"
"There he is!" exclaimed Jack Spaniard, as a slight splashing in the water attracted his attention. "Hold that light up higher, Friday."
The boy elevated the lantern above his head, and its rays fell full upon the face of the fisher-boy, who was in the act of turning to look at his pursuers. Believing that his chances for finding a safe hiding-place under the pier were very slim indeed, he had struck out for the harbor, and was working his way through the water at a rate of speed that made Sam extremely nervous.
"Push ahead, fellows!" said he, taking his stand in the bow of the yawl, with the lantern in one hand and the boat-hook in the other. "Send her along lively. Hold on, there, Bobby Jennings, or I'll rap you over the head."
But the fisher-boy swam faster than ever. The bully was not yet near enough to strike him with the boat-hook, and he did not intend to allow him to come within reach if he could help it. But, although he proved himself to be a remarkable swimmer, he could not go faster than the yawl, and finally Sam Barton, who was leaning so far over the bow of his boat that he seemed to be in danger of losing his balance and falling into the water, was near enough to the fisher-boy to fasten into the collar of his shirt with the boat-hook.
"Now, then, you're ketched," said he, savagely, as he began to pull his prisoner toward the boat. Bob evidently thought so too; but he determined to keep up the fight as long as there was a chance for escape, and, suddenly raising up in the water, he seized Sam by the hair with one hand, while with the other he attempted to release his collar from the boat-hook.
"Stand by here, somebody!" exclaimed Sam, who felt his prisoner slipping through his fingers.