"No!" exclaimed Johnny, bringing his club against the door with a force that threatened to drive it from its hinges. "How do you know?"
"We heard it from the burglars, who are out now somewhere hunting up the Crusoe men. I'd like to know how much longer you are going to stand there looking at us."
Johnny was so astonished and delighted by the intelligence he had just received, that he forgot all about the prisoners, until these words of Jackson recalled him to his senses. While he was releasing them, the lieutenant repeated what the robber had told him, which made the clerk so excited that he could scarcely stand still. He was in a great hurry to return to the Storm King now, and so were the students; and in two minutes after Johnny had freed them from their bonds, hasty preparations were being made to get the schooner under-way.
"There is no possible chance for any backset this time," said the lieutenant. "The Sweepstakes is our prize. The pirates can't escape now, for there is no cove here with secret passage ways for them to take refuge in. What's the matter, Phillips?"
"Sink my tarry wig!" exclaimed the young sailor. "Just see there, sir!"
Jackson looked toward the opposite side of the creek, and who should he discover but Tom Newcombe, crawling along almost on his hands and knees, and making all haste to get into the bushes out of sight. In his hand he carried the valise containing the seven thousand dollars. Jackson and his friends looked at him a moment, then at one another, and made a simultaneous rush for the jolly-boat; and Johnny Harding was in so great a hurry that he shoved the boat from the schooner, almost before the others had time to jump into her.
"Oars! Let fall! Give way together!" commanded the lieutenant, in a fever of excitement, as soon as the jolly-boat was clear of the bushes. "Stand by to jump out, and give chase the instant we touch the bank."
"I don't think we'll have to give chase at all," said Johnny. "What's the reason he doesn't run, I wonder? He is standing there in the bushes looking at us. We're after you, Tom Newcombe!"
"O, now, what do you want with me?" drawled the captain of the Crusoe band.
"We want you and that money, and we're bound to have you, too. It's all up with you now."