No more was said about the shadowy craft for some time, until they were off Reedy Island; then the skipper came on deck at the mate’s request, and scanned the dark waters in search of her.
“Seems to me I do make out something,” he said, rather anxiously. “Been following us down the river, has she?”
“Yes; and she’s headed for us now,” said Ethan, whose eyes were keener than his elder’s. He gazed at the vessel which, sure enough, was now rapidly coming up with them; suddenly he grasped the arm of his companion. “Shamus,” he breathed, “I was right.”
“About the shallop. That’s the same vessel.”
The captain of the Island Queen turned upon the boy.
“Do you mean the shallop that lay in the dock next us?” asked he.
“Oh, then, it’s all well enough. You see her captain is a friend of mine, and I suppose he wants to speak to me.”
“I think,” said Ethan seriously, “that you’ll find that there is something more to it than that.”
“And I agree wid ye,” said Shamus O’Moore; and without another word he dived below.
“Your man seems sort of nervous,” laughed the captain.
“Not he,” smiled Ethan. “If you spoke of nerves to him, I hardly think he’d know what you were talking about.”
“He’ll be back in a moment. And I fancy he’ll have his tools with him.”
The captain stared, but said nothing more to the lad. Scanning the waters toward the island he spoke to the mate at the wheel in low tones regarding the chart by which he was steering. They were still so engaged when the big lug sails of the shallop came plainly into view and a voice from her deck hailed hoarsely,
“Ahoy,” answered the schooner’s skipper promptly.
There was silence for a moment, then the voice replied:
“Yes; lay to; I want to come aboard of you.”
“Very well,” and the schooner’s commander gave the order to his crew.
But Ethan stepped to his side quickly and said:
The captain laughed and answered, “Oh, I see that the Irishman is not the only person aboard the Queen that’s nervous. You’ve got a touch of that complaint yourself, my lad.”
“It’s not a question of nerves,” said Ethan quietly. “But it’s been my experience that one vessel does not hang in the wake of another for any good purpose.”
“Your experience,” cried the skipper good humoredly; “listen to that, Mr. Jarvis!”