Three minutes later he ventured on deck, and looking far astern, saw the pirates sitting motionless in the boat as if dazed at the very successful manner in which their villainous scheme had been frustrated.
It seemed incredible that the little craft could have traversed such a distance in so short a time, but there was no disputing the fact, and Ned set up a shout of triumph, in which he was joined both from the wheel-house and engine-room.
Then he ran to where Vance, having just risen to his feet, was swinging the yacht around as if to intercept a small craft which was running to the westward.
“That explains why those fellows were so anxious to gain possession of the craft at once that they were willing to accede to our terms in the slight hope of getting the best of us. Unless I’m very much mistaken that is a Key West pilot-boat, which has been up the coast somewhere, and we had better speak her.”
Vance was not mistaken.
Half an hour later they had overhauled the craft and taken on board a reliable pilot, who promised they should be at anchor at Key West before midnight, and, what was better still, he kept his word to the letter.
Between them Vance and Roy ran the engine, and it is safe to say both felt a sense of the most intense relief when they heard the signal to slow down, followed by a command to Ned to “clear away the anchor.”
It yet lacked a quarter of twelve when the mighty splash told that the Zoe was in the home port once more, and her capture nothing more dangerous than some hideous nightmare which is quickly forgotten.
Vance and Roy were on shore very soon after sunrise next morning, and almost the first person they met was the former’s father.
The party had heard at New York of the fears which were entertained concerning the safety of the Zoe, and passage was taken on the Key West steamer at once.