Part 25 (2/2)
”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 pa.s.sing 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 navigation of 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 the north-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.
CHAPTER XXII.
THE GAME AMONG THE SHALLOWS
The Sylph was bothered by the last movement of the Goldwing. No one knew what she wanted; but she had demonstrated that she was after the schooner, and had business with her. Pearl seemed to be delighted with the success of his manoeuvre. He had to drop the centre-board, and beat back. He gave the point a wide berth in standing to the north-west.
”We can keep her going back and forth through the channel till night,”
said Pearl in high glee. ”This is really exciting business, and I enjoy it more than I should a game of cards. I am much obliged to you, Dory Dornwood, for showing me this little trick.”
Dory said nothing; for he saw that the game was not the same that he had played early in the morning. There was an element in the contest which had not entered into that between the Goldwing and the Missisquoi; and he thought Pearl was very stupid not to see it. He did not point it out, or even hint at it. He hoped and expected that the interference of the Sylph would restore the schooner to him; and that was all he cared for, though he was quite willing that Peppers should capture and take his prisoner to Plattsburgh.
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