"Whatever can that bloomin' teakettle want of us?" growled the captain of the schooner as he blinked with half-closed eyes at his pursuer. "She ain't no revenue boat, as I can see. Tom, h'ist our ensign as a hint for 'em to keep away."
The sailor obeyed, and a minute later ran the crimson flag of Great Britain to the main peak, where it streamed out bravely in the freshening breeze.
"Got a flag aboard this boat, Captain Spillins?" asked Major Arkell as he watched the schooner from the _Broncho's_ pilot-house.
"Good. We'll see that fellow and go him one better. Set 'em both."
In consequence of this order the Stars and Stripes were quickly snapping defiantly from both the forward and after jack-staffs of the on-rushing tug.
"Sheer off, blast you, or you'll run us down!" bellowed the captain of the schooner as the tug ranged close abreast.
"Is that your man?" asked the manager, of Mike Connell.
"He is. Sure I'd know him from a thousand by me own frescos on his purty face."
"Have you a man named Richard Peveril aboard your craft?" demanded Captain Spillins.
"Run him down!" ordered Major Arkell, sternly, and the words had hardly left his mouth before the two vessels came together with a crash.
As no other schooner was in sight, and as this one was standing off the coast when discovered, the _Broncho_ people had from the very first believed her to be the one they wanted. Her hoisting of British colors strengthened this belief, and it was finally confirmed by Connell's recognition of her captain. Until that moment, however, they had entertained serious doubts as to whether they should find Peveril on board; for it did not seem credible that even a smuggler, accustomed to running great risks, would dare abduct and forcibly carry off an American citizen. They did not know of the tempting reward promised to the schooner's captain for doing that very thing, nor of his determination to make this his last voyage on the great lake. So they anxiously awaited his answer to the question:
"Have you a man named Richard Peveril aboard your craft?"
When it came, although it was neither yes nor no, it so thoroughly confirmed their suspicions that they had no hesitation in attempting to rescue their friend by force, and the _Broncho's_ men gave a yell of delight as the two vessels crashed together.