"Get under way!" ordered Captain Stephens. "I've got a little professional pride about this thing, and I don't want those youngsters to beat the _Bennington_ into port! Full speed ahead!"
Half an hour later the _Bennington_ poked her nose around the next bold promontory of the east coast of Kadiak. One more broad bay lay before them.
Tossing up and down on the waves, half-way or more across, was a small, dark object!
The eyes of the old Aleut were first to discover this, and he began to shout and gesticulate as several pairs of glasses were turned upon it. Old Captain Stephens broke out in a string of nautical ejaculations, which need not be printed in full. "Look at that!" he cried. "Talk about _sailors_! See 'em go! They wouldn't reef a point if they could--and I guess they can't, for they seem to have a board or something for a sail. And they've got leeboards down. They've got two oars out for steering-gear. By the great horn spoon! Cummings, crack on more steam or they'll beat us to New York! Why, dash my eyes, Hazlett, you old woman, didn't I _tell_ you you couldn't lose those boys?"
The gentleman whom he addressed smiled rather crookedly but could find no speech.
The whistle of the _Bennington_ roared out three times in salute. At once the distant dory came about and laid a long tack to intercept the course of the cutter. In a few minutes she was within hailing distance. The crew of the _Bennington_ were along the rail, and without orders they greeted the young sailors with a cheer.
"By gad!" said Captain Stephens, turning away. "It's worth a couple of months of Uncle Sam's time to see a thing like that. There's where we get our _men_! Safe? Humph!"
Rob, John, and Jesse, all ragged and bare-headed, stood up in the pitching dory, calling out and waving their hands. First they passed up their prisoner, and an instant later they were on board and in the middle of excited greetings. These over, they hurriedly explained the events covering the strange situations which have been recounted in our earlier pages. Meantime, Skookie was standing silently and stolidly at the side of his father, who made no such great excitement over him. The boys now introduced him, with the highest praise for his faithfulness and a plea that something be done for his reward.