“But what can you do against so many?” she returned, with a hysteric laugh.
“Something—you’ll see. They shan’t hurt you while I’m alive,” he declared earnestly.
“But suppose they take us off with them—Swivel and I?”
“Go, of course,” returned Brandon promptly. “Leave me to shift for myself. When you get ashore communicate with Adoniram Pepper & Co. of New York, and tell them how I’m fixed. Good by, Milly!”
He wrung her hand warmly and disappeared in the direction of the booby hatch ’tween decks. At the same moment there were voices outside and the noise of the schooner’s small boat scraping against the side of the brig.
Milly, with hands clasped tightly across her breast, as though in the endeavor to still the heavy beating of her heart, remained standing beside the cabin table as the men boarded the brig and entered the cabin.
The first to come below was the ill featured Leroyd himself, and close behind him was Alfred Weeks and two other men from the crew of the schooner.
“Dash my top lights!” cried the sailor, as he caught sight of the young girl standing there so silently.
He retreated precipitately upon his friend Weeks, who was almost as greatly astonished as himself.
“How under the sun came you here, Miss Frank?” demanded Sneaky Al, stepping forward.