“Can it be possible, that the deserters have run her in here and left her?” he asked, excitedly.
“It is possible, but hardly probable,” replied Walter. “They didn’t steal her just to run her across the bay and leave her. They’re going to Havana in her.”
“I know that. But if they are on board, why don’t we hear them talking or walking about? They may have gone back to the village for something.”
“Then we should have met them,” said Walter. “But, if you say so, we’ll go up nearer and reconnoitre. I’d like to have one more look at the Banner, before I give her up for ever.”
“Go on,” said Perk. “If they are there, we need not show ourselves.”
Walter, throwing himself on his hands and knees, crept cautiously toward the bank of the creek, and in a few minutes laid hold of the Banner’s bob-stay, and drew himself to an erect position. The little vessel lay close alongside the bank, held by a single line, her bowsprit being run into the bushes. Her sails had been lowered, but were not furled, and this made it evident that her captors had either hurriedly deserted her, or that they intended very soon to get her under way again. The boys listened, but could hear no movement on the deck. Afraid to give utterance to the hopes that now arose in his mind, Walter looked toward his companions, and receiving an encouraging nod from each, seized the bob-stay again, and drawing himself up to the bowsprit, looked over the rail. There was no one in sight. Slowly and carefully he made his way to the deck, closely followed by Perk and Eugene, and presently they were all standing beside the hatch that led into the galley. It was open, and a close examination of the apartment below, showed them that it was empty. There was still one room to be looked into, and that was the cabin. If there was no one there, the Banner would be their own again in less than thirty seconds.
Without an instant’s pause, Walter placed his hands on the combings of the hatch, and lowered himself through, still closely followed by his companions. The door leading into the cabin was closed but not latched. Slowly and noiselessly it yielded to the pressure of Walter’s hand, and swung open so that the boys could obtain a view of the interior of the cabin. They looked, and all their hopes of recovering the yacht vanished on the instant. Lying in different attitudes about the cabin—stretched upon the lockers and on the floor were five stalwart men, all fast asleep; and conspicuous among them was Pierre, the smuggler. Walter hastily closed the door, and without saying a word, began to remove the hatch that led into the hold.
“That’s the idea,” whispered Eugene. “We’ll rescue Bab before we go ashore. Let me go down after him; I know he’s there.”