"I don't know what's up," answered the mate of the Peacock. "Better come aboard and see."
"He has fallen down the hatchway!" cried Captain Langless. "Poor chap! he's hurt himself quite badly." And he disappeared, as if going to Tom's assistance.
If Sam had been in a quandary before, he was doubly so now. Had Tom really fallen, or had he been attacked?
"I can't leave him alone," he thought, and without further hesitation leaped up the side of the schooner with the agility of a cat.
It was a fatal movement, for scarcely had he reached the deck when he was pounced upon by Captain Langless and held fast until Arnold Baxter appeared.
"Let me go!" cried Sam, but his protest proved of no avail. A lively scuffle followed, but the lad was no match for the men, and in the end he found himself handcuffed and thrown into the hold beside Tom.
"Tie the rowboat fast to the stern," ordered Arnold Baxter, and this was done.
The going down of the wind was only temporary, and now a slight breeze sprang up.
"We are in luck!" said the captain of the schooner.
