CHAPTER XI.
PURSUIT Whatever had happened, one fact was plain, and that was that the smaller of the two cruisers was not swinging at anchor where they had left her.
Nor could they see her anywhere.

That she had dragged her anchor was impossible, since the harbour was almost land-locked and the night was still, with hardly enough breeze to stir the water.

After the first few minutes of stunned surprise the twelve boys, gathered on the _Adventurer_, held council.

It was Phil who eventually summed up the situation quietly and tersely as follows: "The boat's gone.

She isn't in the harbour, because if she were we could see her.