Something bumped against the side of the ship and a grating sound followed.  Then came other gentle thuds combined with the soft swish of water disturbed.  Peggy and Brewster were on the point of going below when their attention was caught by these strange sounds.

“What is it?” she asked as they paused irresolutely.  He strode to the rail, the girl following close behind him.  Three sharp little whistles came from above and behind them, but before they had time even to speculate as to their meaning the result was in evidence.

Over the sides of the ship came shadowy forms as if by magic; at their backs panther-like bodies dropped to the deck with stealthy thuds, as if coming from the inky sky above.  There was an instant of dreadful calm and then the crisis.  A dozen sinewy forms hurled themselves upon Brewster, who, taken completely by surprise, was thrown to the deck in an instant, his attempt to cry out for help being checked by heavy hands.  Peggy’s scream was cut off quickly, and paralyzed by terror, she felt herself engulfed in strong arms and smothered into silence.  It all happened so quickly that there was no chance to give the alarm, no opportunity to resist.

Brewster felt himself lifted bodily, and then there was the sensation of falling.  He struck something forcibly with all his weight and fell back with a crash to the deck.  Afterward he found that the effort to throw him overboard had failed only because his assailants in their haste had hurled him against an unseen stanchion.  Peggy was borne forward and lowered swiftly into arms that deposited her roughly upon something hard.  There was a jerky, rocking motion, the sudden splash of oars, and then she knew no more.

The invaders had planned with a craftiness and patience that deserved success.  For hours they had waited, silently, watchfully, and with deadly assurance.  How they crept up to the “Flitter” in such numbers and how the more daring came aboard long before the blow was struck, no one ever explained.  So quickly and so accurately was the abduction performed that the boats were well clear of the yacht before alarm was given by one of the watch who had been overlooked in the careful assault.

Sleepy sailors rushed on deck with a promptness that was amazing.  Very quickly they had found and unbound Brewster, carried a couple of wounded shipmates below and had Captain Perry in his pajamas on deck to take command.

“The searchlight!” cried Brewster frantically.  “The devils have stolen Miss Gray.”

While swift hands were lowering the boats for the chase others were carrying firearms on deck.  The searchlight threw its mighty white arm out over the water before many seconds had passed, and eager eyes were looking for the boats of the pillagers.  The Arabs had reckoned without the searchlight.  Their fierce exultation died suddenly when the mysterious streak of light shot into the sky and then swept down upon the sea, hunting them out of the darkness like a great relentless eye.