THE POACHERS. I $3 



"And what shall we do then?" said Jimmy, who was 

 becoming a little nervous. 



" Run them down the water is not deep enough to drown 

 them and take away their boat if we can, and then make them 

 come and beg our pardon before we give it up to them. If 

 they attempt to board us, knock them over again." 



Frank spoke decidedly and hotly, for he was much put out 

 at the theft of the fish. His family had so befriended the poor 

 people around, that it was very ungrateful of some of them to 

 rob their line. His spirits rose, too, with a force he could not re- 

 sist, at the thought of a midnight engagement, and the chance of 

 outwitting those who had thought to outwit him. Dick and Jimmy 

 were ready to follow their dux at any instant, and anywhere. 



" They won't come till about midnight," said Frank, " so we 

 may as well take a little sleep." 



About two o'clock they were broad awake, and lying flat on 

 the deck of the yacht, peering into the darkness in the direction 

 of the night-line. 



" Hush/' said Dick'; " I heard a noise like that of oars." 



They listened, and sure enough they heard the noise of oars 

 splashing in the water, and grating in the rowlocks. 



" Here they are," whispered Frank. " We shall soon be in 

 the thick of it." 



Dick had been trembling for some time in his nervousness, and 

 he thought somewhat bitterly, " What is the matter with me ? 

 Am I a coward ? :> and he felt ashamed at the thought. It was 

 not cowardice, however, but pure nervousness, and the moment 

 he heard the sound of the approaching voices his nervousness 

 departed, and he felt as cool and collected as Frank. 



A black patch soon became visible on the water, and they 

 could just distinguish the outline of the boat. A splash in the 

 vvater told them that the mooring stone had been thrown out, 

 and that the robbers were at work. Frank quietly slipped his 

 mooring, and the yacht drifted quickly towards the men. They 

 were soon near enough to see that there were two men in the 

 boat, and they heard one of them say in a startled tone, 



" I say, Jack, that yacht's adrift." 



" Is there any one on board, did you see ? " said the other. 



" No, I don't think so." 



" Yes, there is though. Pull up that stone and row off as 

 fast as you can," answered his companion. 



M 2 



