"Yes, I see her plain enough now," answered Bessie, taking it for granted.
"It's a very pleasant night to sail," added Mat, as the boat ran up alongside the vessel.
"Beautiful!" exclaimed Bessie, as she looked up to the stars.
The boat was brought up to the gangway; the man at the bow oar stepped out and assisted her on board. Mat Mogmore did not follow her, but pushed off the boat, and pulled away into the darkness. It still wanted more than half an hour of the time appointed for the sailing of the yacht. Mat pulled a short distance from the vessel, and then lay upon his oars. He waited there fifteen minutes, either to kill the time or to arrange his plans, and then ran up alongside the yacht.
He had put Bessie on board of the Caribbee!
He was actually in the employ of Dock Vincent.
Mat stepped on the deck of The Starry Flag, whose foresail and mainsail had been hoisted, and her anchor hove short. The lamps in the cabin and state-rooms were lighted, and the steward was as busy as a bee, and delighted at the thought of once more having the beautiful young lady on board; for it was a joy to serve her, her smile was so sweet, her voice so pleasant, and her heart so full of kindness.
"Where are you, Mat?" demanded Levi, as the treacherous seaman came on board.
"My mother has just had a fit, and they say she will not live till morning," replied Mat, in the most disconsolate of tones. "I shouldn't have come on board at all if Mr. Watson hadn't sent me with a message to you."
"What was the message?" asked Levi, tenderly, for he was full of pity for Mat.