“I must admit that they’re not an overly prepossessing crowd, Norris,” replied Mr. Harding.  “But it’s not always either fair or safe to judge strangers entirely by appearances.  I’m afraid that there’s nothing else for it in the name of common humanity than to take them aboard, Norris.  I’m sure your fears are entirely groundless.”

“Then it’s your orders, sir, to take them aboard?” asked Captain Norris.

“Yes, Captain, I think you’d better,” said Mr. Harding.

“Very good, sir,” replied the officer, turning to give the necessary commands.

The officers and men of the Halfmoon swarmed up the sides of the Lotus, dark-visaged, fierce, and forbidding.

“Reminds me of a boarding party of pirates,” remarked Billy Mallory, as he watched Blanco, the last to throw a leg over the rail, reach the deck.

“They’re not very pretty, are they?” murmured Barbara Harding, instinctively shrinking closer to her companion.

“‘Pretty’ scarcely describes them, Barbara,” said Billy; “and do you know that somehow I am having difficulty in imagining them on their knees giving up thanks to the Lord for their rescue—­that was your recent idea of ’em, you will recall.”

“If you have purposely set yourself the task of being more than ordinarily disagreeable today, Billy,” said Barbara sweetly, “I’m sure it will please you to know that you are succeeding.”

“I’m glad I’m successful at something then,” laughed the man.  “I’ve certainly been unsuccessful enough in another matter.”

“What, for example?” asked Barbara, innocently.

“Why in trying to make myself so agreeable heretofore that you’d finally consent to say ‘yes’ for a change.”

“Now you are going to make it all the worse by being stupid,” cried the girl petulantly.  “Why can’t you be nice, as you used to be before you got this silly notion into your head?”

“I don’t think it’s a silly notion to be head over heels in love with the sweetest girl on earth,” cried Billy.

“Hush!  Someone will hear you.”

“I don’t care if they do.  I’d like to advertise it to the whole world.  I’m proud of the fact that I love you; and you don’t care enough about it to realize how really hard I’m hit—­why I’d die for you, Barbara, and welcome the chance; why—­My God!  What’s that?”

“O Billy!  What are those men doing?” cried the girl.  “They’re shooting.  They’re shooting at papa!  Quick, Billy!  Do something.  For heaven’s sake do something.”

On the deck below them the “rescued” crew of the “Clarinda” had surrounded Mr. Harding, Captain Norris, and most of the crew of the Lotus, flashing quick-drawn revolvers from beneath shirts and coats, and firing at two of the yacht’s men who showed fight.

“Keep quiet,” commanded Skipper Simms, “an’ there won’t none of you get hurted.”

“What do you want of us?” cried Mr. Harding.  “If it’s money, take what you can find aboard us, and go on your way.  No one will hinder you.”