Five minutes later he sailed off in the sloop, having the yawl and his own boat in tow.
Going down the bay a mile, he ran the boats into a secluded bay adjacent to his own land, and then tramping up to his house for chains and padlocks, he fastened them all securely. Then he tramped up the hill to his house chuckling to himself:
"I've not only got twice the value o' them thirty dollers, but I've taken away every means for the boys to leave the island."
[CHAPTER XIV.--TWO OPPORTUNITIES.]
When Mr. Benton, in his chuckling, had declared that he had taken away every means the young firm had for reaching the main shore, he overlooked two important facts: first, that the island at its nearest point was not over a half-mile from the main-land; and, second, that there was an abundance of material on the island from which to construct a temporary float, even were there not other ways of effecting a landing.
Now the events of the previous chapter, it will be remembered, occurred on a Thursday; consequently the next day was Friday, and the young firm's greatest salesday of all the week. The trial and the incidents antecedent to it had greatly hindered the lads' work, also; and when they retired at an early hour on Thursday night, therefore, it was with a determination to be up the next morning long before their usual time, which was in no sense late.
There was, moreover, a special reason for the boys to be up early this particular morning, for a telegram the day before had brought an order for an extra supply of fish to be shipped that morning by the earliest train to the city. That train left at six o'clock, and the fish must be packed and at the depot before that hour. So it happened that the lads were up at a little past three o'clock, and breakfast was eaten and they were out at the wharf before four.
Immediately after their first exclamations of surprise at the disappearance of the boats Judd asked:
"Who do you suppose has taken them, chum?"
"One of two parties," responded Budd, promptly; "either Bagsley and his gang, or Mr. Benton."