A moment before she had dreamed of pirates with pistols in their belts. Now out there on the sea they were, or at least seemed to be, in real life. There could be no denying the e

ly. Dressed in long, black coats, with red scarfs about their necks and broad-brim

pistols of the ancient sort a

sign of skull and cross-bones

ne off the Maine coast in a hundred years." Pausin

spered frantically. "Hu

her wits; expecting at any moment to be arrested for trespassing, or who k

sted on coming up here. Now we shall be caugh

se; but in the excitement she w

stockings in her hands,

"Don't speak! Not a sound!" Ruth led he

in the boat. Sit

unt. The sound of rowing came much more clearly now. Th

e back of the boat and began wabbling it about in the water. She

" she thought, as a sudden

don't light

for forgiveness and half petition for safety, she th

nd the Black Gull. Never befo

rters. And now there came a panic-inspiring gleam of

ey are attempting to light a flare!" She redoubled her energy at the oar. Great b

r the ship's anchor chain, touched b

came a bass voi

second flare. But luck was with them. They had

her, we are caught

inute. Then came the sounds of a boat bumping

uth breathed a

," she whispered a moment later. "Even if they look

" Betty's question

n't k

they lo

tol

ty barely sup

be!" she said

k Gull and sail her away. The wind is rising. There's plen

d they wan

Captain Munson, the owner, has been offered ten thousand dollars for her.

ll go like this. The Black Gull doesn't belong just to Captain Munson. She belongs to all us Maine folks. That's why he won't sell

round and get their boat. We'll tow it ashore so they can't escape, then spread the al

herself with fear, "that they don't cat

e was an air of conviction in

rounded the ship's hull and came at last to a point

h. "We'll be away in a mo

ough the dark. Only thoughts of her beloved Maine and the ancient six-master that stood for so much that was grand and

told her that there was no one in the long boat t

when there came a harsh jangling of chains. A rusty chain dangling from the side of the ship had caught in the stern

f a brilliant electric torch which br

ons of astonishment as dark figu

teal our boa

the plank," cam

her, placing a foot on t

Betty was beginning to cry softly, w

now what they are about, but I'm bound to say it can't be anyt

d her champion's voice. He was Patrick O'Connor, the ski

n? Captain O'Connor dressed as a pirate and aiding in

short off by the voice

their story. An' mebby girls don't ca

nt to come up we'll be glad to have them. If they don't, the

lump in her throat. "We've got to go u

did not understand and that she

, they went up the rope ladde

ed one on either side of Captain O'Connor before the

ole, a steaming tank of coffee, and pies without end, graced the board. A merry band of pirates, surely. Most surprising of all was the fa

his formidable face, "I am sure you will enjoy the meal more f

rimson flush on Ruth's cheek, "you stand