It was the Governor and his son hurrying around the corner of the veranda.  “I do not believe it,” the Governor was saying.  “I cannot credit it.  That could not have been his ship which was reported still off the bar at dark—­a clumsy galliot of a craft she was described; and besides, he would not dare, a whole squadron cruising within an hour’s sail.”

“But he is gone, and we found the guard was overpowered.  He does not even know how it happened, and his ship is even now moored in the lagoon, and he himself was with Hassan less than an hour ago.  Hassan will say no more until he gets his advance money in the morning.  But if we move now, he is caught like a rat in a trap.  Why not send word to the squadron?  The wind is from the sea again and increasing, and he cannot now recross the bar.  If we could get hold of Cunningham’s nigger, he’ll know something.  Perhaps we can make him tell.  I’ve sent Charlotte to watch her.”  He ran to the corner of the veranda.  “O Ubbo!  Where in the devil is he?  O Ubbo!  Only a few minutes ago he was talking to her out front.  Ubbo!  O Ubbo!”

A mulatto girl came hurrying from within the house.  “The American missy, I cannot find her.  She not in her room, suh.”

“What!” The fat old potentate almost jumped into the air.

But the son kept his head.  “Not in her room, Charlotte?  And Ubbo gone, too?  Had I not better make the guard ready, sir?”

“Yes, yes; have the guard fall in.”

They rushed around the corner of the veranda and we leaped into the lighted path.  She, too, stepped out into the light.  “Captain Blaise, oh, Captain Blaise, you don’t know what courage you give us.”

“Miss Shiela, you don’t know what joy you give us.

“Still the same—­but—­but who is this?” she cried out like a surprised child.  And then she seemed to know without being told, for “Oh-h, of course, this is Guy,” she said, and smiled as if she had an hour to smile in, and gave me both hands.

“Come,” said Captain Blaise abruptly.  And down the rear path we hurried, and, circling the garden, entered the hedged path to the lagoon bank.  All went well until we had to pass the walk which crossed our path from the front lawn.  Here the light of a row of hanging lanterns fell on us.

And they saw us, the Governor and his son and the assembled guards, and came charging down across the lawn after us.  But only two abreast could they come down the path.

“The boat is now but a hundred yards away, Miss Shiela,” said Captain Blaise.  “Guy will take you there.  Go you, too, Ubbo.”  I took her hand and we raced to the bank, where I handed her to a place beside her father in the boat.

“And what are you going to do now?” she asked.

“I?  Why, I must go back to help Captain Blaise.”

“Oh, of course.  But hurry back.  And be careful, won’t you?”

I ran up the path and was soon at his elbow.  The column was crowding down the path, and so soon after coming from the bright light, possibly they could not see clearly when he swung.  However it was, one groaned and slid down.  He cut again and the head of the column stopped dead.  “What’s wrong?” came a voice, the Governor’s.  “What are you stopping for?”