We turned in quietly, as may well be imagined, but I had not gained any great amount of sleep when I was awakened by a tumult on deck.
“Hubbard’s escape has been discovered,” Alec whispered when I sprang up, so bewildered for the instant that I failed to understand the meaning of the noise. “Our best plan is to remain here as if yet asleep.”
As he suggested, so we did, and after a short time the confusion subsided; when, despite the gravity of the situation, slumber again closed my eyelids.
It was broad day when I awakened; Alec was standing by the side of my hammock, and the report he made was most assuring.
“I have just been on deck. Matters there are in our favor; it is believed that the key was left in Hubbard’s door by the marine who served him with supper—”
“That can easily be disproven by finding the key.”
“It has been kept in the mess-room, in charge of the third officer, who now reports it missing. In my opinion, old Silas got hold of it after coming aboard last night. At all events, there appears to be little fear of our being suspected, more particularly since we shall put to sea again as soon as a fresh supply of water can be taken aboard.”
Although the escape of a prisoner through what appeared to be carelessness on the part of his keepers was a serious matter, it sank into insignificance when a sail was sighted three miles off the entrance of the harbor, and signals were set for the Scorpion to put off in pursuit.
The schooner was quickly gotten under way, and while this was being done orders were given for the entire fleet to follow.
In less than ten minutes after the lookout had reported the stranger, our squadron was carrying full sail, the Scorpion leading by half a mile or more, and every man laboring under the greatest excitement, for it surely appeared as if we were in a fair way to make a prize.