Part 23 (2/2)
”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 skipper behind 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 pa.s.sengers 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't got 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?”
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