Here they were met by one whose stature proved him to be a boy.

He glided up to Dick, who said, in a low whisper: "Is all ready ?" "All right," replied the boy, in a whisper.
"The ooman aboard ?" "Aye." "Now, Mr.Gascoyne," said Dick, pointing to a large boat floating beside the rocks on which they stood, "you'll be so good as to step into that 'ere boat, and sit down beside the individual you see a-sitting in the stern-sheets." "Have you authority for what you do ?" asked Gascoyne, hesitating.
"I have power to enforce wot I command," said Dick, quietly.

"Remember yer promise, Mister Pirate, else--" Dick finished his sentence by pointing to the three men who stood near--still maintaining a silence worthy of Eastern mutes; and Gascoyne, feeling that he was completely in their power, stepped quickly into the boat, and sat down beside the "individual" referred to by Dick, who was so completely enveloped in the folds of a large cloak as to defy recognition.

But the pirate captain was too much occupied with his own conflicting thoughts and feelings to bestow more than a passing glance on the person who sat at his side.

Indeed, it was not surprising that Gascoyne was greatly perplexed by all that was going on at that time; for he could not satisfactorily account to himself for the mystery and secrecy which his guards chose to maintain.