“But who——”
“The kidnappers!” cried Larry. “That’s who it was.”
“But what object could they have?” asked Mr. Potter.
“To prevent our following them,” went on the young reporter eagerly. “We must have been too close on their trail, and they wanted to make us meet with an accident, or else they put back out of the blow, discovered us, and tried to wreck us.”
“Which they would have done, if this hadn’t been discovered in time,” said the captain. “In this blow it wouldn’t have taken much to send us on shore and then—well, it would be all up with the Elizabeth,” he finished grimly.
The wind, which had been blowing steadily, seemed suddenly to increase in violence. There was a sharp, jagged streak of lightning off to the west, and it was instantly followed by a sharp clap of thunder.
“It’s coming on worse!” cried Mr. Potter. “Is everything snug up here, Captain Reardon?”
“Everything, sir. You might as well get below. I’ll double the watch on deck, and we’ll keep a sharp lookout for those scoundrels. They must be somewhere in the vicinity, but they’ve doused their lights. A foolhardy piece of business, too. Whew! There comes a big one!”
As he spoke a mighty wave came aboard, the stanch motor craft fairly burying her nose in it. The spray flew aft, wetting them all.
“Better go below,” advised the captain. “It’s getting worse every minute.”