“There, that’s better,” the captain commented.  “I’m glad to see that ye’re so obedient.  It has saved yez from a great deal of trouble at present.  But before we go on with our interestin’ proceedin’s, I want yez to go down there by the water.  Git along with yez,” he continued, as the men hesitated.  “Don’t worry about yer clothes; they’ll be all right.  My, yez do look fine.  Too bad there isn’t a picnic of some kind here this mornin’.  But, then, I guess that’ll come later.”

When the men had obeyed his orders, and were standing close to the edge of the water, the captain moved about the edge of the rock, closely followed by Rod.  He kept his eyes fixed upon the robbers, and then ordered the boy to gather up the clothes and carry them up among the trees.  Seeing what was being done, the cornered men once more gave vent to their feelings.

“Talk all yez like now,” the captain remarked, as he sat down upon a drift-log.  “It’d be a pity to spoil yer enjoyment, seein’ that soon ye won’t be able to talk so free.”

By this time Rod had placed the clothes in a safe place and, coming back, sat down by the captain’s side.

“Did ye bring the guns with ye?” the latter asked.

“Yes, here they are,” and Rod held up two revolvers.  “I found them in the pockets, and thought it best to bring them with me.”

“Ye did right, lad,” and the captain took one in his hand.  “Fine weapon, that, and loaded up to the muzzle.  Wouldn’t yez like to have it, eh?” and he held it out to the captives.  “Too bad, isn’t it, that I’ve got to keep it?  But this toy isn’t safe fer every one to handle, so I’ll look after both myself.”

By this time the fog had begun to lift from the face of the water, and in the distance the outline of the shore of the mainland could be faintly discerned.  Then houses and hills came into view.  The sun had already started forth on its daily course, and was now swinging over the tops of the pointed pines which lined the upper end of the island.  The fog gradually disappeared, fading away in soft filmy wreaths.  Not a breath of wind stirred the surface of the water.  The captain often turned his eyes down stream for some sign of the boat from the city.  Why were the police so long in coming? he asked himself.  He had expected them at the island in two hours at the most, and still they were nowhere in sight.  He was getting very impatient sitting there, keeping the captives under such strict guard.  He determined to have something to say later about the slowness of the police.  He would write an article for the paper, that was what he would do.  If that was the way they always acted, was it any wonder that crimes were so frequent?

Another hour passed, and when the captain’s patience was strained to the utmost, a large motor-boat suddenly rounded the lower end of the island, and slowed up right in front of where the capture had taken place.  A number of men were on board, who looked curiously upon the strange scene before them.