Jay waved a farewell and went over the side on a tie rope. Soundlessly he slipped into the water and straightway began to swim. He had laid his course several times during the evening and found it easy going because the strange craft had dim lights forward and aft. Jay's target lay directly between.
Accustomed to the water, a stout swimmer and in the best of condition, he made rapid progress. The youth's chief concern was to make no noise. By no means must he make the slightest sound that would betray his approach to any who might be watching aboard the mystery ship. That some one or perhaps many were on guard Jay felt only too sure.
Here was a sure enough adventure! He prided himself on the exploit. It was just what suited his daring nature. Like Bainbridge in the harbor at Tripoli, or Hobson at Santiago! Jay remembered American naval heroes who had performed spectacularly and bravely for their country.
"This may not be war, but it's good live stuff all right!" He chuckled to himself as he swam stealthily along in the water, conserving his energy in every possible way and aiming true to his target.
Presently he came close up to the craft. Yes, she was a palatial auxiliary, just as Captain Austin had divined. Her sails were furled by now and she was wrapped in a mantle of darkness save for her signal lights and a solitary light that twinkled from the cabin ports well forward.
Jay swam closer. He was swimming slowly with only his face out of water. What was that just over the rail on a line with the main mast? The youth turned smoothly on his back and lay looking up on the deck of the stranger craft. It was a guard! Jay could see faintly the glow of a cigar and a moment later heard the man clear his throat!
Immediately the Brighton youth swam in close to the side of the vessel. There was less chance of being seen. Quietly he set his course toward the bow. Likely the guard was only to starboard since that side was next the Jules Verne in the near distance. Jay resolved to go around to the port side and take his chances there on getting aboard.
Accordingly, he swam quietly forward and slipped around the bow of the mystery ship, sliding in under her taut anchor chain. Once on the port quarter, Jay worked his way rapidly along looking for a line that might lead aboard the vessel. What was his great joy to find a rope ladder fully extended and firmly held above.
It was only the work of a minute to draw himself up, round over round. At the rail he paused and surveyed the deck in both directions. No one was in sight. Only from the cabin forward came a murmur of voices. The guard—if there was one—was to the far side and apparently in ignorance of the fact that a boarder had come over the side.