As perhaps you know, we keep a Finland
fishing-boat down in the cove below."
"Yes, yes," said Jack impatiently, drawing away his hand.
"Well, six or eight months ago that boat disappeared, and has never
been heard of since. None of our prisoners was missing; none of the
garrison was missing; my three assistants were still here, yet in the
night the boat was taken away."
"Really. How interesting! Never learned the secret, did you?"
"Never, but I took precautions, when we got the next boat, that it
should be better guarded, so I have had two men remain upon it night
and day."
"Are your two men armed, Governor?"
"Yes, they are."
"Then they must surrender, or we will be compelled to shoot them. Come
down with us, and advise them to surrender quietly, otherwise, from
safe cover on the stairway, we can pot them in an open boat."
"I will go down with you," said the Governor, "and do what I can."
"Of course they will obey you."
"Yes, they will obey me-- if they hear me. I was going to add that
only yesterday did I arrange the electric bell down at the landing,
with instructions to those men to take a telegram which I had written
in case of emergencies, to the mainland, at any moment, night or day,
when that bell rang. Your Highness, the bell rang more than half an
hour ago. I have not been allowed out to see the result."
The placid old man put his hand on the Prince's shoulder, as if
bestowing a benediction upon him.
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