“Who’s going to rob me,” demanded Archie.
“Why, after what has been done, we ought to take the vessel and these prisoners back to Hobart Town without help from anybody. But if that steamer we saw last night was a man-o’-war—and I think she was, for she didn’t show lights enough for a merchantman—she will soon discover the trick we played upon her, and be back after us.”
“Well, suppose she does come back after us! She’ll not trouble us. There is no need of it, for we are in a position to take care of ourselves.”
“You’ll see,” said Frank. “Her captain probably has orders to take charge of the vessel, and if he comes up with us he’ll do it.”
Archie did see, and so did Frank. Shortly after daylight, while the latter was taking his turn guarding the prisoners, Archie suddenly appeared at the head of the companion-ladder and shouted:
“Here she comes. Shall I send the Doctor down to relieve you?”
Frank replied in the affirmative, and when the Doctor came down, he hurried to the deck. The steamer they had seen the night before was a little way in advance of them, and about three miles distant. She was following a course almost at right angles with the one the Stranger was pursuing, and that looked as if it was her intention to intercept the schooner.
“When I first saw the smoke, she was bearing away to the southwest,” said Archie. “Then the mist lifted a little, and when she caught sight of us, she changed her course at once. That means business, doesn’t it?”
Frank was quite sure it did. He went down into the cabin after Uncle Dick’s trumpet, and wanted to see what the steamer was going to do. When she had approached within half a mile, the English flag was run up to the peak, and all her broadside ports were dropped. Through their glasses the boys could see that her crew were at quarters.
“She couldn’t make greater preparations if she were about to come alongside a hostile frigate,” said Archie. “I wish she’d sheer off and let us alone. She is of no use here.”