“I would not so consider if it was my privilege to be along,” he replied.  “We must trust to surprise, and get the crew below fastened down before an alarm is sounded on board.  A dozen armed men ought to clear the decks.  How do you look at the affair, Craig?  Will the plan work?”

“I am not sure I understand exactly what is proposed, sir?”

“My thought is, that this man Henley will be sufficiently anxious to get hold of you two again, and regain those papers, so that he will steam about slowly all night, hoping to get sight of the missing boat at daylight.  He has no means of knowing that the revenue officers are after him.  If he sights us at daybreak, he ’ll make a run, and show us a clean pair of heels.  He ’d be hull down in five hours, for this is a slow old tub.  Now what I propose is this,” and the Captain counted off the points on his fingers.  “There is about an hour of darkness left—­sufficient to enable me to run this cutter in behind Cosmos Island safely out of sight.  In the meanwhile we ’ll dismantle that small boat a bit, slip a dozen good men under the canvas, and turn her adrift.”

“And you wish me to go also?”

“Yes, if you will.”

“And Mrs. Henley?”

“That would be the only way to allay suspicion on the Sea Gull.”

I hesitated, half turning so as to look at her.  Our eyes met, and she must have instantly read the question in mine, for she arose to her feet, and rested one hand on my arm.

“You wish to say yes?” she asked quietly.  “You believe the plan will succeed?”

“It sounds feasible.  I would gladly go myself, but I hesitate at exposing you; there will be fighting.”

“But my being there is one of the requisites of success?”

“I suppose so.  If you were not visible in the boat, they might suspicion the truth.”

She glanced toward the waiting Captain, and then back into my face.

“Then I will go, of course,” she said smilingly.  “Let us not discuss it any more.”

The Captain stepped forward, bowing, bare-headed.

“Most bravely spoken,” he said soberly.  “I owe you a debt, madam.  Mr. Smith, have the boat prepared at once to carry out my idea.”

“To leave the impression that an incompetent seaman had been in charge of it through the night, sir?”

“Exactly; the mast overboard, and the canvas stowed badly.”

“Yes, sir, a big sheet.”

“Bunch it so as to leave all the space possible; leave the jib set; it will help conceal the men.  Send Lieutenant Hutton here.”

“He will have command of the party?”

“Yes; let him pick his own men, and then report to me; arm them with a revolver apiece.  Be lively about it.”

He turned to us as Smith left the cabin.

“I cannot offer you much at this hour,” he said genially, “but the boy has some hot coffee ready.  Bring on what you have, Joe.”