Part 21 (2/2)

”What is all this for, Mr. Peppers?” asked Dory, 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 s.h.i.+ft 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. s.h.i.+ft 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 pa.s.sengers knew any thing about a boat. But the men s.h.i.+fted the fifty-sixes under the direction of the skipper. Five of them were carried farther aft, and the pa.s.sengers 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 we get 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 pa.s.sengers into the cabin.

By the change in the position of the ballast the boat 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.

CHAPTER XIX.

PEARL HAWLINSHED RESORTS TO VIOLENCE.

”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.

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