Anonymous - Maudie - revelations of life in London

Accordingly, a course was set. But before they had made the Horn, one dark night a large vessel overhauled them and signalled them to stop.

'Full steam ahead,' said Charlie, 'we've got the heels of anything but a destroyer.'

But the strange vessel seemed to steam two to their one, and the message came, 'Stop or we sink you.'

A moment later a shell screamed overhead, followed by two more placed neatly to port and starboard.

After a hurried council they gave up. The strange vessel came close alongside, and dropped a launch. In a few moments several elegant young men and a young girl dressed as a middy were on deck.

'What does this mean?' spluttered Tubby.

'Piracy, my dear sir, piracy-simple, unabashed piracy. Why, it's Tubby. Well, Tubby, we can't even spare our friends in this business. Fork out.'

Charlie came forward.

'Look here, St Ed-'

'No names, please,' snapped the young man.

'Well, I don't know what your game is, but look here, old chap, we're fugitives from justice too, and if you collar all we've got, God knows what'll happen to us.'

'Tell me,' he said.

For answer Charlie took him into the chart-room and showed him the papers.

The young man was deeply interested.

'That alters the circumstances altogether,' he said, 'and it's a dashed good job for you you ran against me. I've got an island no one in the world bar ourselves knows of: we could do with some more congenial inhabitants. It's obvious you can't go back to England, so you come with me. I'll send you a couple of steersmen on board to give you your course. You pop over and have dinner with me, and we'll talk things over. You know who I am, and why I left England. We're all in the same boat over there, all gentlemen. You'll have good time.'

Well, it was arranged, to the immense relief of the passengers of the Lesbia, and the two yachts set off in company, southward bound.