"That fellow in the steamer says you did; and we have been running away from him since yesterday morning," replied Corny.
"That man, whose name is Pearl Hawlinshed,has something against me; and I don't care about putting myself into his hands," answered Dory.
"I suppose you don't," added Corny with a sneer. "I don't like this thing a bit. We have been with you since yesterday morning, and they say the receiver is as bad as the thief."
"Do you believe I am a thief, Corny?" said Dory, looking his accuser squarely in the eye.
"I don't see how I can believe any thing else. I don't want to believe such a thing of you, Dory. Fellows like you and me don't have forty-two dollars in every pocket of their trousers; and you won't tell us where you got the money," answered Corny a little more moderately.
"You talk and act just as though you did want to prove that I stole the money I paid for the boat," added Dory. "All I ask of the fellows is to believe that I am innocent until I am proved guilty."
"That's the talk! that's fair! I don't believe Dory did it!" exclaimed Thad.
"Let him tell where he got the money, then," replied Corny.
"That's his business, if he don't choose to tell,"argued Thad. "It don't prove that Dory is a thief because that fellow says so. We don't know any thing about that fellow."
"Do you believe that he would chase us for two days in a steamer if there wasn't something serious the matter?" asked Corny.
"Yes, if he wanted to get this boat," replied Thad.
"Well, I have had enough of this thing. Here we are cruising all over the lake with a thief, running away, and dodging a steamer sent after him; and we are getting into it as deep as he is," blustered Corny.
"Shut up, Corn Minkfield, or I'll smash your head!" exclaimed Thad, leaping to his feet, and moving towards the sceptic.
"None of that, Thad!" interposed Dory, putting his arm between the two belligerent members. "I don't want any fight over it."
The skipper put the helm up, and gybed the boat.
"What are you going to do now?" demanded Corny when Thad had resumed his seat. "I am not going to be carried all over the lake with one who is running away from the officers."
Thad sprang to his feet again, but Dory quieted him.
"I am going back to Plattsburgh to face the music," said Dory.
Corny looked more disgusted than ever.
"I'm not going back to Plattsburgh!" exclaimed Corny Minkfield. "My mother will want to know what has become of me by this time."
"What are you going to do, Corny?" asked Dory in the gentlest of tones.
"I am going back to Burlington," answered Corny.
"All right! I don't object," added Dory, as he headed the boat for Plattsburgh.
Thad laughed, and Nat and Dick smiled. Corny talked and acted as though he "owned things;" and the others were rather pleased to see him taken down a peg when he was in this mood.
"You promised to take us back to Burlington, Dory; and now you are going to drag us back to Plattsburgh," growled Corny.
"But you don't want to sail all over the lakewith a thief. If I go to Burlington now, I shall be running away from the officers. I must go to Plattsburgh, and face the music."
"Hurrah for Dory!" shouted Thad. "Is that the way a thief does it?"
"Hurrah for Dory!" added Dick Short. "That isn't the way a thief does it."
"But I want to go home. I don't want my mother to worry about me," added Corny.
"You called me a thief just now, and I can't run away from the place where they accuse me. I will put you ashore at the light-house, or on Colchester Point."
"You might as well put me ashore on Stave Island. I want to go back to Burlington."
"We are bound to Plattsburgh now; and I shall not stop to rest until I have seen the men that charge me with stealing that money," replied Dory very decidedly.
"The man that charges you is in that steamer, and you run away from him," retorted Corny.
"The Missisquoi is hard and fast aground. If I give myself up to him, I shall only have to stay on board of her all day; for he may not get off. I may be in Plattsburgh before he is."
Corny grumbled a while longer, but the skipper took no further notice of him. The course of the Goldwing carried her within a short distance of the stern of the Missisquoi. Captain Vesey and Pearl had tugged at the poles until they saw that it was useless to attempt to get the steamer off in that way.
Pearl was plainly disgusted with the situation. The bow of the boat was as far out of water as when the schooner passed her before, and the efforts with the poles had not started her a hair. When the enterprising extra pilot of the steamer saw the Goldwing coming, he hastened to the stern.
"Come alongside, Dory Dornwood! I will make it as easy as I can for you when we get to Plattsburgh. Take me on board," shouted Pearl.
"I am going to Plattsburgh to face the music," replied Dory.
"Take me with you!" called Pearl.
"I don't want you," answered Dory.
"I can get you off, and make it all right with you."
"No, I thank you," added Dory; and he declined to take any further notice of his persecutor.
For the present the excitement was ended. It was about seven in the morning, as Dory judged by the height of the sun. Thad got out the provisions; and, though there was not much variety to the repast, the boys ate heartily. After the meal some of them went to sleep. Before ten o'clock the Goldwing was alongside the wharf, in the position where Dory had first seen her.
The skipper lowered the sails with the help of the rest of the club, though Corny was still too much disgruntled to do any thing. Every thing was put in order on board, and Dory locked the cabin. Before he had finished, Corny went off alone. Just as the party were going to leave the wharf, a couple of men came down. They walked directly to the boat, as though they had seen her coming up the bay, and had business with her.
"Is this the boat that went off from here yesterday morning?" asked one of the men.
"Yes, sir: this is the boat," replied Dory, hoping that the men's business related to the charge against him.
"Are you the boy that bought her?" continued the man who did the talking.
"Yes, sir: I am the one that bought her andpaid for her," answered Dory. "Do you know of anybody in this town that wants to see me?"
"I can't say I do," said the man, looking at the other one, and laughing.
"There was a little steamer here in the forenoon."
"That was the Missisquoi."
"A man went off in her to look up this boat. Have you seen any thing of the steamer?" asked the man.
"Yes, sir: she is hard and fast aground on the Colchester shoal, near Law Island. The man that went in her to look up this boat was Pearl Hawlinshed. I don't believe in him, and I kept out of the way of him and his steamer."
"How could you keep out of the way of a steamer in a sailboat?"
"I managed it. But I didn't know till he hailed me from the steamer that I was charged with stealing some money from one of the hotels. Can you tell me any thing about the matter, sir?"
"I think we can tell you all about it," replied the speaker. "This is Mr. Moody, the man that lost the money."
"And this is Mr. Peppers, the detective, who is looking up the case," added Mr. Moody.
"As soon as I heard about it, I came back to face the music," said Dory.
"Your name is Dory Dornwood, I learn," said Mr. Peppers.
"Theodore Dornwood is my name, but I am called 'Dory.'"
"Just now we are rather more anxious to find the other man than we are to get hold of you," continued Peppers. "I don't believe there will be much music for you to face, Dory."
"But Mr. Hawlinshed said I was wanted here, and I have come. Is he an officer?" asked Dory.
"He is no officer, and he had no right to arrest you."
"Hallo, fellows!" shouted Corny Minkfield, coming down the wharf: "there is a steamer over here which is going to Burlington, and we can go in her."
"I should rather go in the Goldwing," said Thad, looking at his companions.
"You must be in a hurry about it, for she will be off in a few minutes," added Corny. "Wewon't get home to-day if we don't take this chance."
"When are you going, Dory?" asked Nat Long.
"I don't know when I shall go. If you have a chance to go, you had better use it," replied Dory.
After a little discussion, the four members of the Goldwing Club decided to improve the opportunity to get home; for Dory could not say that he should go to Burlington that day. All of them but Corny took occasion to say that they believed Dory was all right, so far as the money was concerned; for the detective did not seem inclined to say any thing about the matter beyond the rather encouraging statement he had already made. A few minutes later the skipper saw a small steamer leave another part of the town, and he was again alone so far as friends were concerned.
"I think we had better go up to the Witherill House, and look the case over," said Peppers, after the boys had gone.
"Why do you say there will not be much music for me to face, Mr. Peppers?" asked Dory, as they walked up the wharf. "I am accused ofstealing the money, and I don't understand the matter."
"I am sorry Hawlinshed did not come back with you," replied the detective, without answering the question. "In fact, we want him more than we want you."
"Do you want him as evidence against me?" inquired Dory very anxiously.
"We are looking into the case, and finding out all we can. We have some ideas, but we don't say much about them," said the detective.
Dory could not get any thing more out of the officer. They soon reached the hotel, where he was introduced to Mr. Velsey, the landlord, who was informed that the skipper of the Goldwing had come to face the music, whereat he looked very good-natured, and conducted the party to a private parlor.
The landlord wanted to know where Dory had been since he left the hotel the morning before; and he told the story in full of his trip on the lake, and the pursuit of the Missisquoi. The hotel-keeper and the detective were very much amused at the manner in which he had dodged the steamer, and especially when the hero statedthat he had left his pursuers aground on Colchester Shoal.
"But, if I am charged with stealing this money, I want to know about it," said Dory when he had finished his narrative. "Pearl Hawlinshed said I was wanted here; and here I am."
"You were about the hotel night before last, were you not?" asked Peppers.
"I was. I was here to see a gentleman who had a room on the next floor. I left between ten and eleven," replied Dory promptly.
"I don't think it is any use to go into that matter, Peppers," interposed Mr. Velsey, when he saw that the detective was disposed to make as much parade over the case as possible. "Come to the point at once."
"Have you any money, Dory?" asked the officer, evidently coming to the point as directed.
"I have: I have sixty dollars and some change," answered Dory, without any hesitation, as he put his hand upon his wallet in his pocket.
"Have you any five-dollar bills?" continued the detective.
"I have two five-dollar bills. The rest of the money is in tens."
"Will you show me the fives?"
Dory produced his wallet, and handed the two bills to the officer. Peppers passed them to Moody at once. The latter shook his head, and handed them back to the detective, who returned them to the owner. The skipper wondered what all this meant, and was very much surprised that Peppers did not ask him where he had got the money he paid for the Goldwing.
"That sets you all right, Dory Dornwood," said the landlord. "I am sorry we made you come back to Plattsburgh, but Hawlinshed was sure you were the one that stole the money from Moody's room. We are satisfied now that another person committed the robbery."
"Then you don't want to send me to jail?" added Dory, with a sensation of the most intense relief.
"Not at all. We didn't know so much about the case yesterday forenoon as we do now. The next man we want to see is Hawlinshed. You say he is aground somewhere in the steamer."
"On the Colchester Shoal: at least he was three hours ago," added Dory.
"That's in Vermont, but I will give you tendollars to put Peppers in the same boat with him."
Dory was glad enough to do it. The tables had turned.
Ten dollars! And this sum was to be made with the Goldwing. It would pay nearly one-fourth of what she cost, and add ten dollars to the sum he was to have the happiness of giving to his mother.
"I don't understand yet why I am let off," said Dory, after he had recovered from his amazement at the prospect of earning ten dollars.
"You are let off because you didn't do it," replied the landlord, laughing. "I am sorry we accused you, but it looked bad for you at the first of it. Peppers and Moody will tell you all about it after you get into the boat. We have an early dinner ready, and you must dine before you go."
In addition to all this, the landlord invited him to come to his house whenever he was in Plattsburgh, and make himself at home there. Thehotel-keeper dined with them, and he asked Dory a great many questions about the boat. Was she a dangerous boat?
"Any boat will tip over if you don't handle her right," replied Dory sagely. "I sailed her across the lake yesterday when it blew a young hurricane, and she is as safe as any boat I ever was in."
The young skipper proceeded to explain what had made the Goldwing so unruly. He had overcome the difficulty, and he was sure that she was as safe as any boat on the lake. He had perfect confidence in her, and he was willing to have her tested in any weather by any boatman on the lake.
"Pearl Hawlinshed wanted to buy her; and he claims to be the greatest boatman on the lake, and knows his way all over it from Whitehall to St. Johns," added the hotel-keeper. "He knows just where the bottom is in every place."
"I think he does," replied Dory, laughing. "I know he found it yesterday and to-day. Any fellow knows just where the bottom is, but he don't always know how far it is from the top."
"I often have parties here who want a boatand a skipper; and I may be able to turn some business into your hands, Dory," added the hotel-keeper.
"Thank you, sir: that's what I want every day in the week, except Sunday," replied the skipper of the Goldwing.
After dinner Dory and his passengers went to the wharf, and in a few minutes they were standing up the lake. The wind was considerably fresher than it had been in the morning, and the Goldwing made about six miles an hour. The bad reputation of the boat had made some impression upon Peppers, and at first he was very shy when she heeled over under the influence of the smart breeze.
Dory soon satisfied him that the boat would not upset, with any thing like fair treatment. He explained and illustrated the lee-helm business. With the tiller fast in the comb, he allowed the craft to have her own way. At the next gust she threw her head up into the wind, and spilled all her sails. This satisfied both of the passengers, and they manifested no more timidity.
In an hour and a half the schooner was up with Stave Island. The detective had asked the skipperhalf a dozen times if he could see any thing of the Missisquoi; but the islands had concealed her from view, if she were still on the shoal. A few minutes more would enable him to answer the question. Dory's passengers had plied him so closely with questions since they started, that he had forgotten all about the matter the officer was to explain to him; but the expectation of soon seeing Pearl brought it back to his mind.
"You haven't told me yet why I was charged with taking Mr. Moody's money from his room," said he.
"One reason was, that you were seen about the hotel, near Mr. Moody's room; and the other was, that you had money enough to buy this boat," replied Peppers. "But I was satisfied that you didn't take the money as soon as I got the facts from Moody."
"It was a lucky thing for you, my boy, that I fixed things as I did," added Moody.
"How did you fix things?" asked Dory.
"I have just started the business of making tomato-wine for sickness. I sold two hundred dollars' worth of it in Plattsburgh, part of it to go to New York. The merchant gave me a checkfor the money, and I went to the bank to cash it. I received forty brand-new five-dollar bills," Moody explained, producing one of the bills. "I am trying to advertise my business all I can; and I had a rubber stamp made, which the agent delivered to me the day I got my money. I went to my room, and stamped every one of those new bills with my business card in red ink. That is the way I know the bills when I see them."
"And that is the reason why you wanted to see all the five-dollar bills I had," added Dory.
"But we had looked over the bills you paid for the boat before," said the detective. "We have been looking for bills with this red stamp upon it since yesterday noon."
"Have you found any?" inquired Dory with interest.
"I found two of them. We have got to the southward of Stave Island now. Can't you tell whether that steamer is in sight now?"
"Yes, sir: there she is, just where we left her this morning," replied the skipper, as he glanced in the direction of the shoal. "I think Pearl Hawlinshed has had a good time there all day."
"How far off is she?" asked Peppers.
"About two miles, but we shall reach her in twenty minutes. Where did you find the two bills with the stamp on them?" asked Dory.
"Can they see us on board of that steamer, Dory?" asked the detective, without heeding the question.
"They can see the boat; but of course they can't tell who is in her two miles off," replied Dory.
"I am afraid I shall have some trouble with Pearl, Dory," said Peppers anxiously. "The landlord was to give you ten dollars if you put me in the same boat with Pearl."
"I think I shall earn the money without any trouble," replied Dory, laughing with delight at the bright prospect before him.
"But, Dory, it makes some difference to me in what boat I happen to be put with him, though you will earn your money all the same," added the officer.
"All I can do is to put you on board of the Missisquoi. Of course I can't put Pearl Hawlinshed on board of this boat if he is not willing to come."
"But I don't want to be put on board of theMissisquoi," protested Peppers. "There is where the rub comes. I am an officer in Plattsburgh, but not in the State of Vermont. I can't arrest Pearl over here."
"Arrest him! Are you going to take him up?" asked Dory, not a little astonished at this revelation.
"I am not going to do it over here; and he may make me no end of trouble when he sees how the land lays," added Peppers; and at the same time he sat down in the bottom of the standing-room.
"What are you going to arrest him for?"
"For stealing Moody's money!" exclaimed the detective desperately. "I didn't mean to tell you the whole story just yet, but you have dragged it out of me. Drop down here, Moody."
The loser of the money obeyed, though he seemed to be as much in the dark as to the object of the movement as the skipper. Dory was worried at the words of the officer; for, if he would not go on board of the little steamer when he went alongside of her, he might not be able to earn the promised reward.
"What is all this for, Mr. Peppers?" askedDory, quite as anxious to earn his money as the detective was to secure his prisoner.
"Can't we go into the cabin, and shut the doors, Dory?" asked Peppers.
"You can; but that would bring the boat down by the head so much that she won't work well. If you want to do that, I will shift the ballast," replied Dory.
"I don't want Pearl to see me until we get him into this boat. It won't do for me to take him out of the steamer over here. I am afraid to do it. Shift your ballast, and then I will fix it up with you," added the officer.
"Fix up the ballast!" exclaimed Dory, who did not care to have any one meddle with the ballast but himself.
"No, no! Fix up a plan to get Pearl into this boat. Don't try to be so thick, Dory," replied Peppers impatiently.
The skipper could not leave the helm to move the ballast, and neither of his passengers knew any thing about a boat. But the men shifted the fifty-sixes under the direction of the skipper. Five of them were carried farther aft, and the passengers took their places one in each berth in the cabin.
The doors opening into the standing-room were closed, but the slide was left open till the schooner came alongside the Missisquoi. The men declared that they were very comfortable in their quarters, and Dory could not see why they should not be. He did not think there was any better place in the known world than the cabin of the Goldwing.
"Now, how are we to get Pearl into this boat?" asked Peppers, with his head at the opening by the slide.
"I don't think you will have any trouble about that," replied Dory. "He wanted me to take him on board this morning, but I believe he will take the boat away from me as soon as he comes on board."
"Don't you be alarmed about that, Dory. I can take care of him when I get him within reach of my hand," added the detective.
"I believe he is as ugly as sin itself, and I think he hates me worse than he does the Evil One himself. I have given him a big run the last two days, and I gave him a chance to find the bottom twice."
"I will look out for you, Dory. I don't want him to know we are on board of the boat till weget over to the other side of the lake," added Peppers. "He will look into this cabin the first thing he does after he comes on board. Can't you give us the key, and let us lock ourselves in, Dory?"
"You can't lock the doors on the inside," answered Dory. "When the slide is drawn, a hasp comes down from it, and all the doors are fastened with a padlock."
"Then why can't you lock us in? You won't tip the boat over while we are in here, will you?" asked the detective, as he thrust his head out far enough to enable him to see the steamer, which was not more than a quarter of a mile distant by this time.
"I will agree not to tip you over; but I can't tell what else may happen, if I take such a fellow as Pearl Hawlinshed on board."
"If you have any trouble with him, all you have to do is to unlock the door, and let us out; and we will take care of you."
"All right! I am satisfied to do any thing you say," added Dory, as he went forward, drew the slide, and locked his passengers into the cabin.
By the change in the position of the ballast theboat was kept in good trim. She dashed merrily through the water, and in a few minutes more she was describing a circle around the grounded steamer.
"Hallo! is that you, Dory Dornwood?" shouted Pearl Hawlinshed, as the Goldwing came within hail of the steamer. "Come alongside, and take me on board!"
"All right!" replied the skipper of the schooner, as he hauled in the sheets with all his might.
"Take me on board, and I will make it all right with you," continued Pearl, who did not seem to believe that Dory intended to take him on board.
The skipper had brought the boat about so that all her sails were shaking, but she had headway enough to carry her to the port quarter of the steamer.
"Be all ready to jump on board when I come up alongside," called Dory.
"Are you going off to leave us, now that youhave got us into this scrape?" demanded Captain Vesey, springing to his feet; for he had evidently been asleep on the quarter-deck.
"I am going to get a steamer to drag you off this shoal," replied Pearl. "I will come back in a couple of hours or so."
"You may forget to come," added Mr. Button, the engineer. "I think you had better pay me the five dollars you owe me before we part company."
"And five dollars you owe me," added Captain Vesey.
"I don't owe you any five dollars, either of you," replied Pearl blandly, as he was about to leap on board of the Goldwing. "I was to give you five dollars apiece if you put me on board of this boat, and you haven't done it."
"We should have done it if we hadn't let you do the piloting," replied Captain Vesey. "You owe us the money, and you must pay it."
"I think not," added Pearl, as he sprang on the forward deck of the schooner. "You haven't done what I agreed to pay you for."
"Hold on!" shouted Button angrily. "If you don't pay me, I will take it out of your hide."
"You will catch me first, won't you?" jeered Pearl, as he leaped down into the standing-room of the boat.
"Don't carry him off, Dory," added Captain Vesey. "He is the biggest rascal that ever floated on Lake Champlain."
"Keep off, Dory, if you know when you are well off!" said Pearl in threatening tones.
But Dory was anxious to perform his part in the drama; and he filled away on the starboard tack, pointing the head of the boat towards Plattsburgh. His fellow-voyagers did not give Pearl a good character, but this was not a surprise to the skipper. He knew what Pearl was before he had seen him in the daylight.
"Here we are, Dory," said the villain, as he seated himself in the standing-room. "You have dodged me times enough yesterday and to-day, and I am glad to be alone on board of this craft with you."
The skipper did not express his satisfaction that they were not alone, but he felt it just the same. Pearl was ugly, and Dory did not like the looks of him. The new passenger gazed about him, and seemed to be examining the boatfor some time. He looked under the seats in the standing-room, and opened a couple of lockers. Then he raised the floor-boards, and looked at the ballast.
When he had done this, he seated himself again. He looked at Dory, and then he glanced up at the sails. He watched the sailing of the schooner in silence for a few minutes. He evidently had something on his mind, and he appeared to be debating with himself as to the manner in which he should open the subject. As his eyes wandered about the boat, they rested upon the cabin-doors. He looked at them a moment, and then went forward, and tried to open them.
"You keep the cuddy locked, do you, Dory?" asked he, as he pulled several times at the doors.
"Just now I do," replied Dory, who had no skill in lying, and no inclination to practise it. "I wish you would come aft, Mr. Hawlinshed. When you are so far forward, it puts her down too much by the head."
"She works very well indeed, Dory Dornwood. What have you been doing to her?" asked Pearl.
"I changed the position of the foremast, and have shifted the ballast," replied Dory, wishingthe third passenger would come aft; for he was afraid he might discover the presence of the others in the cabin.
"Do you happen to have the key to this padlock in your pocket, Dory?" asked Pearl in an indifferent tone.
Just then he saw the inquirer drop his head, and put his right ear very near the blinds in the doors of the cabin. But he did not act as if he had discovered any thing. The skipper thought he heard some kind of a noise in the cabin, as though one of its occupants had coughed or sneezed. But he was not sure of it, and the noise was just as likely to have been the dashing of the water against the bow of the boat.
"You spoil the sailing of the boat by staying so far forward," repeated the skipper, with his heart in his mouth.
"Perhaps I do, Dory Dornwood. I asked you if you happened to have the key of that padlock in your pocket," said Pearl, as he moved aft. "I should like to have you answer me if it isn't too much trouble."
"Of course I have the key," replied Dory.
"Suppose you give it to me? I should like totake a nap in the cabin while we are going down the lake," added Pearl.
"I just said it spoiled the sailing of the boat to have you so far forward. I slept on that seat here in the standing-room last night; and I think you can take your nap just as comfortably there as in the cabin," answered Dory.
There was something cunning and suspicious in the conduct of Pearl Hawlinshed that made the skipper very uncomfortable. He acted as though he was playing a part to accomplish a purpose. The skipper had made up his mind that it was time for him to open the cabin-doors, and thus obtain the assistance and protection of the officer.
"Don't say any thing more to me about spoiling the sailing of the boat, Dory. I know more about sailing a boat than you do," replied Pearl. "You are a cross-grained youth, and you know more than the law allows for a boy of your years. You beat me out of this boat; but you stole the money to buy her, and it was no trade."
The skipper concluded that it was best to make no reply to this charge.
"We will settle that matter at another time,"continued Pearl. "I believe I hinted to you that I wanted to take a nap in the cabin."
"And I hinted to you that I did not want the boat loaded by the head any more," replied Dory, who was not at all disposed to be bullied, politely or otherwise.
"I prefer to sleep in the cabin, and I want the key of that padlock," said Pearl more decidedly than he had before spoken.
"You can't have it," replied Dory with quite as much decision.
"Do you wish me to throw you overboard, Dory Dornwood?" demanded Pearl, fixing his ugly look upon the skipper.
"No, I don't."
"Then I hope you won't make me do it, for I might be sorry for it; but I must have that key."
"I don't see what you want of the key," added Dory, whose sober second thought was, that he had better not provoke such a dangerous man. "This boat has a bad reputation, and I have to be very careful with her."
"You were very careful yesterday when you ran across the lake in her with the wind blowing a heavy gale," said Pearl with a sneer.
"I will fix a nice bed for you on that seat."
"I want the key!" exclaimed Pearl savagely.
Dory was silent. The key was in his trousers-pocket, where he kept his wallet, containing sixty dollars. His ugly passenger was evidently determined to have the key. Unless he had discovered that some one was in the cabin, he could not see why his persecutor was so strenuous to obtain the key. Pearl was not a large man; but he was very strong and quick, as he had learned in the affair in the woods, when the ruffian had hurled him away from him as though he had been nothing but a baby.
He could hardly get the better of him if Pearl resorted to violence. His companion in the standing-room claimed to be a skilful boatman, and was not dependent upon him to act as skipper. The situation began to look very serious. Though Peppers must have heard every word that passed between him and Pearl, he had not betrayed his presence on board of the boat. Perhaps it would have been foolish for him to do so, as he was as securely caged as though he had been locked up in the Clinton County jail.
Dory finally decided that the only thing forhim to do was to open the cabin-doors, and thus secure the aid of the officer. But Pearl was watching him as a cat eyes a mouse. Whether the ruffianly passenger would permit him to open the doors was now the question. The skipper got his hand on the key in his pocket, though he did not venture to take it out. At a favorable moment, if any such was presented, he intended to make a rush to the forward deck to effect his purpose.
"There is a steamer bound to the north," said he, pointing to a vessel a mile to the windward of the Goldwing. "Perhaps she would run over, and pull the Missisquoi off the shoal."
"I don't want any thing more of the Missisquoi; and she may lie where she is till she rots," replied Pearl, without taking his gaze from Dory.
"Do you know what boat that is, Mr. Hawlinshed?" asked the skipper, very anxious to induce his companion to look away from him, even for an instant.
"I don't know what steamer that is; and I don't care, unless you should happen to go too near her. In that case, I should object," answered Pearl, without looking at her.
"Are you afraid of her, Mr. Hawlinshed? She looks peaceful enough," added Dory.
"You needn't talk any more. I know what you are trying to do; and you won't do it," said the passenger.
Dory saw that it was no use to wait any longer. Pearl was determined not to take his eyes off the skipper. Dory fussed a moment with the sheets, trying in this manner to distract the attention of the villain. Finally he let go the jib-sheet, and it ran out. With the key in his hand, he rushed forward, as if to secure the rope, but really to unlock the cabin-door.
Before he could reach the doors, Pearl threw himself upon his victim. Dory went down into the bottom of the boat in spite of his best exertions to save himself. His right hand was firmly grasped by his assailant, and the key wrenched from his hand. It was done almost as quick as a flash, and Dory was as powerless in the hands of the villain as though he had been only an infant.
Pearl did not offer to use any more violence than was necessary to obtain the key. When he had secured possession of it, he hurled his victim from him.
Dory Dornwood gathered himself up after his defeat, and stood upon his legs again. He was mortified at the result of his attempt to release the officer, and improve his situation in the boat. He had thought of using the tiller as a weapon, and now he was sorry he had not done so. Doubtless it was better for him that he had not; for that would only have compelled his assailant to use greater violence, and he might have been seriously injured, for Pearl seemed to be desperate enough to do any thing.
"Now pick up your sheet, Dory," said Pearl, as he went to the helm, and took the tiller in his hand.
Dory did not feel so much interest in the sailing of the boat as he had a short time before, and he took no notice of the order of his conqueror. He looked at Pearl, and saw him deposit the key ofthe padlock in the depths of his trousers-pocket, which he buttoned up, as though he expected an attempt would be made to take it from him. The new skipper had kept the helm up until all the sails but the jib were drawing full.
"I think I told you to pick up that jib-sheet, Dory Dornwood," said Pearl, in what he doubtless intended for an impressive manner.
Dory had certainly exhibited a considerable degree of prudence under the trying circumstances in which he was placed; but now his stock of that virtue appeared to be exhausted, for he took no notice of the order repeated to him, and the impressiveness of Pearl was wasted. Dory was disgusted at his overwhelming defeat, and he had not philosophy enough to submit to it with good grace. In fact, he was downright mad at the treatment he had received from his last passenger.
He was looking about him for the means of resistance. The long tiller was in the cabin, and he had neglected to take the small one from the rudder-head. As the situation was now, he was disposed to fight; but, unprovided with any sort of a weapon, he realized that he was no match for the villain who had taken possession of the boat.
He looked at the blinds in the cabin-doors. He could put his foot through them; but, if he did, the aperture was not large enough for the officer to crawl through. He began to wonder that Peppers did not say or do something.
"If you don't pick up that jib-sheet, Dory Dornwood, it will be all the worse for you," said Pearl, not so impressively as before; for he had found that manner did not operate with the late skipper.
"If you are going to sail the boat, pick it up yourself," replied Dory with more grit than discretion.
At this particular moment the eye of the late skipper rested on a round hard-wood stick which lay on the floor of the standing-room. It was used in shoving down the centre-board when necessary. When he saw it he laid hold of it. He felt stronger in spirit and in muscle as soon as he had it in his possession.
"What are you going to do with that stick, you young cub?" demanded Pearl, rising from his seat.
"I am going to use it," replied Dory, filled with wrath.
If he had waited for some of his wrath to evaporate, he would have done better. With the club upraised, he rushed aft with the intention of attacking his persecutor. He calculated that one blow over the head with the heavy weapon in his hand would depose and dispose of the new skipper of the Goldwing, and restore him to his place again. Possibly it might if Dory had succeeded in delivering the blow. He was angry and excited, while Pearl was cool and self-possessed.
As he struck what was to be the finishing blow of the conflict, Pearl caught him by the arm, and in the twinkling of an eye wrested the club from his hand. He threw it on the floor, and then he jammed the belligerent young man down upon the seat very hard. Dory felt his bones quake as he came down on the board.
"You have got grit enough to fit out a flock of Bantam roosters," said Pearl, still holding his victim by the collar of his coat. "But I don't want any more of this thing, and I won't have it."
Taking a reef-pendant from under the seat, he proceeded to tie the hands of the late skipperbehind him. When he had done this, in spite of Dory's struggles, he made him fast to the side of the boat.
"Now, young man, I think you will stay where I put you," said Pearl, as he looked his prisoner over, and saw that he was secure. "You won't make any thing by such stupid conduct."
"What's going on out there, Dory?" called Peppers, who could not help hearing the noise of the scuffle.
"Nothing particular going on just now: it is all over," said Pearl, as he resumed his place at the helm, though not till he had gathered up the truant sheet.
"Why don't you unlock the door, Dory?" continued the officer.
"I can't," answered Dory, whose tongue was not tied, if his arms were. "Pearl Hawlinshed has taken the key away from me, and tied my hands behind me."
"Are you there, Hawlinshed?" asked Peppers.
"Of course I am here. Ask Dory Dornwood if I am not," replied the skipper, chuckling at his own reply.
"What does this mean, Hawlinshed?"
"Well, it means any thing you please, Peppers. So you had passengers in the cabin, Dory; and that is the reason you didn't want to open the cabin," added Pearl.
"Open this door, and let us out, Hawlinshed, if you have the key," said the detective in a mild and good-natured tone, as though he expected the villain to do it.
"No: I think I won't," replied Pearl. "I am afraid you wouldn't behave yourself as well out here as you do in the cabin."
The officer said no more for several minutes. Dory concluded that he was looking over his chances of getting out of his prison. Probably he was willing to admit by this time that the tables had been turned upon him. The owner of the Goldwing could think of no way by which the prisoners could get out. The doors were made of plank, and he could not get at the hinges to operate upon them.
"I think we had better talk this thing over, Pearl," said Peppers, after a silence of several minutes. "We may be able to come to an understanding."
"I don't object to talking it over. I haven'tgot any thing else to do; but I am afraid we can't come to any understanding," replied the skipper. "You are a constable, police-officer, detective, and all that sort of thing; and I suppose you went over into Vermont on business. Did you finish it before you were locked into that place?"
Pearl chuckled, and was very good-natured in his remarks; and he plainly felt that he was master of the situation.
"I didn't finish my business; but, if you will open the door, I will end it in a very short time," answered the officer.
"Then I guess I won't open the door," laughed Pearl. "Perhaps you won't object to telling me what your business is in these parts."
"I can't do any thing till you let me out."
"Then you can't do any thing at all. You had better turn in, and take a nap for the rest of the day."
"Do you mean to keep us in here all day, Hawlinshed?"
"Yes: and all night if you don't behave yourself."
Another silence followed, in which the cagedofficer was probably considering what he should do next. It was broken by a sudden crash, which startled Dory. He found that something besides the silence was broken. All the blinds in one of the doors were smashed out at a single stroke from the shoulder of the detective. It hurt Dory's feelings to see the beautiful work of the boat reduced to splinters in an instant; but he realized that he was in the midst of a stirring adventure, and the blinds could be easily restored.
"Good!" exclaimed Pearl, as the opening appeared in the door. "You did that very well, Peppers. I was wishing I could leave the helm long enough to do it myself, for I wanted to see who the other fellow was that had taken passage with me. Besides, I think it is a good deal more sociable to see a man's face when you are talking to him."
"Of course you know, Hawlinshed, that you are resisting an officer, and obstructing him in the discharge of his duty?" demanded Peppers, beginning to be a little more demonstrative as he failed to appreciate the humor of the new skipper.
"Of course I understand that I am obstructingan officer,—a New-York officer over here in Vermont," chuckled Pearl. "By the way, Peppers, have you such a thing about you as a pistol of any kind,—a revolver, a seven-shooter, or any toy of this sort?"
"I haven't any such thing about me. If I had, I should shoot you the next thing I did," answered Peppers petulantly.
"Oh, no! You wouldn't do such a thing as that. It might hurt me," said Pearl with a laugh.
"That is to say"—continued Peppers; and it was plain to Dory that Moody had indicated to him that he had made a blunder in telling the rascal that he had no dangerous weapon.
"That is to say that you haven't any pistol, but the other fellow has one," added Pearl. "By the way, who is the other fellow? It would be a good deal more sociable if you would introduce him."
"His name is Moody, and he will be very glad to make your acquaintance, Hawlinshed."
"If he has got a pistol, it might go off, and hurt one of you in that narrow place; and I think you had better hand it out, and have it properly taken care of," continued Pearl.
"Moody has four pistols, all of them seven-shooters," said the detective, who seemed to be determined effectually to counteract the influence of the blunder he had made.
"Four seven-shooters!" exclaimed Pearl. "He is a walking arsenal. He would sink if he should fall overboard with such a weight of arms upon him; and I think he had better pass them out through the hole you have been so kind as to make."
"He concludes that he may want them, and he don't mean to fall overboard," replied Peppers.
"All right! but let him be very careful with them; for pistols are dangerous things in such a little hole as you now occupy," answered Pearl, who was no simpleton, and was confident that Moody had no pistol, to say nothing of four of them.
A silence of a full hour followed, for neither party seemed to have any plan to act upon. It was plain enough to Dory that the new skipper had discovered the presence of the detective on board of the boat, either before or soon after he went into her himself. A little later he saw aplaid overcoat lying on the forward deck. It was odd enough to betray the identity of its owner, who had forgotten to take it into the cabin with him.
It afterwards appeared that Moody had sneezed twice. This was the sound the skipper heard; and it informed the later passenger that the cabin was occupied, as the coat explained by whom. Two hours had elapsed since the capture of the boat; and the Goldwing was off Cumberland Head, hugging the Grand Isle shore.
"Where are we now, Dory?" asked Peppers, appearing at the aperture in the door, at which he had not been seen for the last half hour, though his voice was heard in consultation with Moody.
"Off Cumberland Head, and close to Grand Isle," replied Dory.
"Is there any thing in sight, Dory?" continued Peppers.
"There is a steamer coming towards the Head. I saw her above Valcour's Island two hours ago; and she has been in at Plattsburgh since that," answered Dory.
"Do you know what steamer it is?"
"I am not sure: she has not been within two miles of us."
"I can tell you all about her," interposed Pearl Hawlinshed with his frequent chuckle. "Whydon't you apply at the captain's office when you want any information?"
"I don't think I can depend upon your information," added Peppers.
"I think you can. The steamer is the Sylph," added Pearl.
"I thought it was the Sylph," said Dory.
"She is the fastest boat of her inches on the lake," continued the skipper. "She has run by any of the big steamers, except the Vermont, which is good for eighteen miles an hour."
Dory had seen the steamer before, and he never saw her without having sad thoughts. He always kept away from her if she happened to be in any port where he was. But she was a beautiful craft, and her ordinary rate of sailing was twelve miles an hour; and it was said that she was good for two or three miles more if her owner would only "let her out."
"I don't think there is any comfort in her for you," chuckled Pearl. "She is a private yacht, belonging to Captain Gildrock; and he don't go out of his way to assist poor and distressed fellow-creatures like you."
"How far off is she, Dory?" asked the officer.
"She is half way across Cumberland Bay; and I should think she was four miles off, or thereabouts," answered Dory.
"Just about four: that was a good guess, Dory Dornwood," added the skipper.
"Can't you hail her if she comes near us?" suggested Peppers.
"No, he can't!" exclaimed Pearl sharply. "It would be cruel of you to ask him to do such a thing; for as sure as he makes a sign to that steamer, or to any other craft, I will throw him overboard, with his hands tied behind him."
"It would be cruel of you to do such a thing, Hawlinshed."
"I know it would, and I shall not do it unless you compel me to act in self-defence."
"Where is this thing to end?" demanded Peppers in a disgusted tone of voice.
"Somewhere up in Canada, I guess," replied Pearl. "I don't believe it will end before we get there, and I think we shall be over the line some time to-night."
"Then you intend to take us into Canada, Hawlinshed?"
"Yes: unless we can make some better arrangement.If you prefer to land at some point on Grand Island, I think we could fix it so as to accommodate you."
"How can we fix it?" asked Peppers rather anxiously.
"I have been thinking the matter over, and I believe I have a plan by which I might safely oblige you," said Pearl. "I have concluded not to go back to Plattsburgh: in fact, I don't believe I should be comfortable and happy there."
"I don't believe you would," added the officer significantly. "We should be apt to make it warm for you."
"Why so, Peppers? You and I have always been good friends, and we never quarrelled. Why should we now?"
"We shouldn't, and I don't intend to quarrel with you. But in my private opinion you will spend the greater part of the rest of your days within the stone walls."
"I don't intend to do any thing of the sort; and I don't believe I shall, if I only take good care of you while I have you as a passenger."
"But how can we fix this matter?" inquired the officer.
"If you will put your hands behind you, and then put them out through that hole you have made, I will fasten them together, as I have Dory Dornwood's. I will do the same with your roommate; and then I will land all three of you at Wilcox Cove, or some other good place. How does this plan strike you?"
"It don't strike me at all," protested Dory. "I won't agree to it."
"But, my dear little Bantam, I didn't ask you to agree to it. Your hands are already tied behind you; and, when I have done with you, I shall throw you overboard, if that happens to be the most convenient way to get rid of you. I was speaking to Mr. Peppers, whose hands are not yet tied behind him; and you should not interrupt the conversation of those who are older and wiser than you are."
"I don't agree to the plan. We will turn in and go to sleep, and you can take us where you please; but you will find in the end that this world isn't big enough to hide you from me," replied Peppers.
"Just as you please, Peppers. We shall not quarrel about a little matter like this. I supposeyou came over after me. Allow me to suggest that you haven't stated the nature of your business with me," continued Pearl gayly in appearance, though Dory could see that he did not feel half so chipper as he talked.
"I think I won't talk any more at present," replied Peppers. "I can wait till we see this thing through."
"You won't have to wait many hours," answered the skipper, as he looked astern to see if any craft was coming near the Goldwing.
Dory was certain that the skipper was disgusted with the decision of the officer, and that he was very anxious to get rid of his troublesome passengers. But the owner of the boat was delighted with the conduct of the detective. He had been afraid that he would compromise with the villain, and that he should lose his boat, or at least be deprived of the use of her for a long time.
"Where is the Sylph now?" asked the officer half an hour later.
"She is not more than a mile astern of us," replied Dory.
"Is she coming near us?"
"She is headed directly for us."
"And where is this boat?" continued Peppers.
"We are approaching Long Point, and are within half a mile of it. We are inside of Sister Islands, and the Sylph seems to be taking the same course. She acts just as though she was following us," said Dory, who had been watching the progress of the beautiful steam-yacht ever since she first came in sight.
"She does act as though she was following us, don't she, Dory Dornwood?" added Pearl Hawlinshed.
"I have no doubt she is following us," replied Dory.
"Do you know of any reason why she should follow us?" asked the skipper, trying to conceal his anxiety.
"I don't," answered Dory.
"Do you know her owner, Dory?" inquired Pearl.
Dory hesitated. It was a disagreeable topic to him, and he would gladly have avoided it. It was plain enough that the Sylph was following the Goldwing, but Dory could think of no reason why she should do so.
"Do you know Captain Gildrock, her owner?"asked Pearl again, and with more energy than before.
"I do know him: he is my uncle," replied Dory, who could see no reason why he should conceal the disagreeable truth—for it was disagreeable to him—from the skipper.
"Your uncle!" exclaimed Pearl, apparently startled at the reply. "Do you mean to say that Captain Gildrock is your uncle, you young cub?"
"I mean to say it, and I do say it."
But Dory wished with all his might that the captain was not his uncle, or any other relation.
"He is one of the richest men in this part of the country," added Pearl, looking astern at the elegant steam-yacht.
"I know it; but I don't have any thing to do with him, and I don't think he is coming after this boat on my account," added Dory.
"I suppose you will be glad to get on board of her," suggested Pearl, who had now become quite nervous in spite of his fine philosophy.
"No, I shouldn't. I was never on board of the Sylph in my life; and I shall not go on board of her if I can help it," answered Dory.
"You and your uncle don't seem to be on the best of terms," continued Pearl, as he headed the boat to the eastward, after passing Long Point.
The skipper ran the Goldwing close to the point. The Sylph was within hailing-distance of her at this time; but the steamer had to go a quarter of a mile or more to the northward of the point in order to find water enough for her greater draught. In this way Pearl gained half a mile or more upon her. This enabled him to run the distance to the Gut, which is the strait, or channel, between North Hero and South Hero, or Grand Isle. It was about half a mile wide, between Bow-Arrow Point and Tromp's Point; though there is only a narrow channel, between a red and a black buoy, for vessels that drew over five feet of water at the lowest stage of the lake.
Pearl headed the Goldwing to the southward of the buoys. The Sylph was almost up with the schooner again; and, if the latter had gone between the buoys, the steamer would have overhauled her before she reached them. The skipper became more and more nervous. It was clear to Dory that Pearl was not familiar with the navigationof this difficult place; for he frequently looked over the side of the boat into the water, doubtless to see how deep it was.
"How deep is the water ahead, Dory Dornwood?" asked the skipper, when he seemed to be bewildered, and evidently expected the boat to take the bottom every moment.
"If you are going to sail the boat, you must do it alone," replied Dory after a little hesitation. "I won't do any thing to help you as things are now."
"Goldwing, ahoy!" shouted some one with a gruff voice in the forward part of the Sylph.
But the steam-yacht had stopped her propeller, and immediately began to back. Her pilot knew how deep the water was on the shoal. Pearl made no reply to the hail, and the schooner continued on her course. Off Tromp's Point she struck her centre-board; but, as she was going before the wind, she did not need it, and Pearl hauled it up so that the boat slid over the shallow place.
The man with the gruff voice hailed the boat again; but the skipper did not respond. Pearl hauled in his sheets, and headed the boat to thenorth-west. The steamer then went through the channel.
"I will play your game upon him, Dory Dornwood," said Pearl, as he put the boat about.
The Sylph stopped her propeller again.