"Ah! but where are they now?"
"Waiting in my boat-house—you know the spot."
"Yes, where we usually land, ain't it?"
"That's the place."
"Well, is everything clear to get to work now?"
"Yes, I've given my regular attendants the slip to-night, and you can go ahead with your work as soon as you've a-mind to, and I'll go ahead with mine. Now, then, gentlemen, I'm ready to pilot you to a safe place whenever you're ready to accompany me."
"We're ready now," said Barney, with alacrity. "Let's get into the boat without a moment's delay."
"All right, jump in," and Barney quickly clambered over the schooner's gunwale, and slipped down into the boat.
"Are you sure it's safe for us to land—sure there's no one on the lookout for us?" asked Bissell, nervously.
"Sure as I can be of anything," answered Pete. "At any rate, it's safer than it is for you to stay here, so go ahead," and Bissell let himself down into the boat, and was quickly followed by Bill Bunce, Pete himself bringing up in the rear.