The creaking of oarlocks and the dip of paddles was unmistakable.

Suddenly Wilbur raised his voice in a great shout:

"Boat ahoy!"

There was no answer; the noise of oars grew fainter. Moran came
running out of her cabin, swinging into her coat as she ran.

"What is it--what is it?"

"A boat, I think, right off the schooner here. Hark--there--did
you hear the oars?"

"You're right; call the hands, get the dory over, we'll follow
that boat right up. Hello, forward there, Charlie, all hands,
tumble out!"

Then Wilbur and Moran caught themselves looking into each other's
eyes. At once something--perhaps the latent silence of the
schooner--told them there was to be no answer. The two ran for-
ward: Moran swung herself into the fo'castle hatch, and without
using the ladder dropped to the deck below. In an instant her
voice came up the hatch:

"The bunks are empty--they're gone--abandoned us." She came up the
ladder again.

"Look," said Wilbur, as she regained the deck. "The dory's gone;
they've taken it. It was our only boat; we can't get ashore."