He put the key in his pocket, intending to throw it into the Neuse as soon as they were safely on board the schooner.
There was no one on the road, nor on the bank of the river.
The party made for the boat, and found that Effrondat, the boatswain, had made all ready to receive them.
Thomas Roch and Gaydon were laid in the bottom of the boat, and the sailors again took their places at the oars.
"Hurry up, Effrondat, and cast off the painter," ordered the captain.
The boatswain obeyed, and pushed the boat off with his foot as he scrambled in.
The men bent to their oars and rowed rapidly to the schooner, which was easily distinguishable, having hung out a light at her mizzenmast head.
In two minutes they were alongside.
The Count d'Artigas was leaning on the bulwarks by the gangway.
"All right, Spade ?" he questioned.
"Yes, sir, all right!" "Both of them ?" "Both the madman and his keeper." "Doesn't anybody know about it up at Healthful House?
"Not a soul." It was not likely that Gaydon, whose eyes and ears were bandaged, but who preserved all his sang-froid, could have recognized the voices of the Count d'Artigas and Captain Spade.

Nor did he have the chance to.
No attempt was immediately made to hoist him on board.

He had been lying in the bottom of the boat alongside the schooner for fully half an hour, he calculated, before he felt himself lifted, and then lowered, doubtless to the bottom of the hold.
The kidnapping having been accomplished it would seem that it only remained for the _Ebba_ to weigh anchor, descend the estuary and make her way out to sea through Pamlico Sound.

Yet no preparations for departure were made.
Was it not dangerous to stay where they were after their daring raid?
Had the Count d'Artigas hidden his prisoners so securely as to preclude the possibility of their being discovered if the _Ebba_, whose presence in proximity to Healthful House could not fail to excite suspicion, received a visit from the New-Berne police?
However this might have been, an hour after the return of the expedition, every soul on board save the watch--the Count d'Artigas, Serko, and Captain Spade in their respective cabins, and the crew in the fore-castle, were sound asleep..