“Hello, Prince, how are you?  And that’s Lieutenant Drummond, isn’t it?  Last time I had the pleasure of seeing you, Drummond, was that night of the ball.”

“Yes,” said Drummond.  “I was very glad to see you then, but a hundred times happier to see you to-day.”

“I was just cruising round these waters in my yacht, and I thought I’d take a look at this rock you tried to obliterate.  I don’t see any perceptible damage done, but what can you expect from British marksmanship?”

“I struck the rock on the other side, Captain.  I think your remark is unkind, especially as I’ve just been praising the watermanship of your men.”

“Now, are you boys tired of this summer resort?” asked Captain Kempt.  “Is your baggage checked, and are you ready to go?  Most seaside places are deserted this time of year.”

“We’ll be ready in a moment, captain,” cried his future son-in-law.  “I must run up and get the Governor.  We’ve put a number of men in prison here, and they’ll starve if not released.  The Governor’s a good old chap, though he played it low down on me a few days ago,” and with that Jack disappeared up the stairway once more.

“Had a gaol-delivery here?” asked the Captain.

“Well, something by way of that.  The Prince drilled a hole in the rock, and we got out.  We’ve put the garrison in pawn, so to speak, but I’ve been mighty anxious these last few days because the sail-boat they had here, and two of the garrison, escaped to the mainland with the news.  We were anxiously watching your yacht, fearing it was Russian.  Jack thought it was the Czar’s yacht.  How came you by such a craft, Captain?  Splendid-looking boat that.”

“Oh, yes, I bought her a few days before I left New York.  One likes to travel comfortably, you know.  Very well fitted up she is.”

Jack shouted from the doorway: 

“Drummond, come up here and fling overboard these loaded rifles.  We can’t take any more chances.  I’m going to lock up the ammunition room and take the key with me as a souvenir.”

“Excuse me, Captain,” said Drummond, who followed his friend, and presently bundles of rifles came clattering down the side of the precipice, plunging into the sea.  The two then descended the steps, Jack in front, Drummond following with the Governor between them.

“Now, Governor,” said Jack, “for the second time I am to bid you farewell.  Here are the keys.  If you accept them you must give me your word of honor that the boat will not be fired upon.  If you do not promise that, I’ll drop the bunch into the sea, and on your gray head be the consequences.”

“I give you my word of honor that you shall not be fired upon.”

“Very well, Governor.  Here are the keys, and good-by.”

In the flurry of excitement over the yacht’s appearance, both Jack and Drummond had temporarily forgotten the existence of the tramp steamer the former had seen beating toward the rock.