"Don't fire, you fool, he'll save your friend," cried the captain. "They'll hear the shot aboard the schooner—put up your gun."
The quickness of events seemed to cause even the cool-headed burglar to hesitate as to what course to pursue. The mate had gone overboard evidently to save his companion. It was certain death to be left out there in the ocean, and Smart was even now swinging the Sea-Horse around in a great circle, heading well to the westward, to make it farthest from the disappearing schooner.
Heldron and Sam had sprung to the sheet, and were rapidly hauling it in hand over hand, while Smart bawled out orders for them, regardless of the saturnine passenger with the gun, who seemed undecided whether to shoot some of them or not.
He sat down and gazed astern at the place where the two men had vanished. He knew his companion was a strong swimmer, but he knew nothing of the black man's giant strength, his remarkable staying powers, and fishlike ability in the sea.
Smart hauled the sloop up on her port tack, and slowly circled, knowing almost exactly where he would pick up the mate. He would not go too fast, for fear of overrunning him, and he felt certain that he need not hurry on his account.
The pale-eyed man appeared to think there was little use hunting for men in the darkness, and his knowledge of his whereabouts was evidently completely lost.
"What's the use, now?" he asked finally. "You can't find a man in the ocean on a dark night. Better give it up. Let's make a run back for the Keys."
"With Bill trying to save your partner?" asked Smart, in feigned disgust.
"Oh, well, my friend, if there was any use of hunting for them, I would stay as long as the next man."