“That’s who it is, chief!” was the prompt reply. “What shall I do? Come up?”
“Yes. But first make sure your boat won’t get away. Make it fast to a rudder chain.”
It took Chick only a fraction of a minute to do this. Then he seized the line and gave it a tug to test its strength.
“It will hold you all right,” whispered Nick. “Come on!”
Chick could climb like a monkey, and in a remarkably short space of time he was by the side of his chief.
The two shook hands with the silent earnestness of men who had often been in peril together, and who knew that each could depend on the other.
“Well?” asked Nick. “How are things at Crownledge?”
“Marcos is there.”
“Is he? I’m sorry to hear that,” returned Nick. “That’s where these fellows are liable to look for him. I didn’t think he’d venture there.”
“That’s all right,” was Chick’s confident rejoinder. “He’s got enough people there to hold off any kind of gang. Besides, he isn’t going to stay. He’ll be gone before daylight. Probably he is away now.”