While Mr. Fearless was gazing anxiously ashore and Bob was tracing every movement of his distant chum through the spyglass, Captain Broadbeam was giving quick orders to his men.
A boat was to go ashore at once and a signal given from the deck of the _Swallow_ that Dave would understand.
"Don't delay, my friends," the excited Stoodles kept urging the sailors. "Let us get into action before my former subjects come into sight again."
All was ready, boat, men, and weapons, to start to the succor of Dave, when Bob Vilett uttered a shout of dismay.
"Oh, captain," he cried, running up to the commander of the _Swallow_, "it's too late."
"How's this? What do you mean?" demanded the captain.
He snatched the glass from Bob's hand and took a look himself. Then he uttered a hollow groan.
Dave and the others were still visible on the cliff, but over a hundred natives had suddenly swarmed about them.
As he looked, the captain saw these surround Dave and the others. They were seized, bound, and carried off into the forest before his very eyes.
The great joy that the friends of Dave Fearless had experienced, at discovering him almost in reach, now gave way to great anxiety as he seemed lost to them again.
Bob Vilett was summoned to the engine room by his superior. Amos Fearless went back to the cabin, looking dejected and sad.
Captain Broadbeam fumed secretly. He paced the deck rapidly, going through considerable mental perturbation.
Pat Stoodles saw the expedition ashore abandoned.
He knew the captain's fiery moods and kept out of the way for a spell. When the _Swallow_ turned her head directly north he approached Broadbeam.
"It's on your way you'd be going, captain dear?" mildly observed Stoodles.
"Don't you see I am?" challenged Broadbeam petulantly.
"It's disturbed ye are, I see," said the plausible Irishman. "Ochone, ye may well be. Wirra-wirra! that fine broth of a boy, Dave Fearless, abandoned to his fate. Deserted by his friends."
"Who's abandoning him, who's deserting him?" flamed out the captain.
"That's it. I was asking your honor," said Stoodles innocently. "Of course ye have plans to assist the lad. I know the island. Wasn't I their king once on a time? Make me your confidant, captain dear. What's your plans?"