Part 28 (2/2)

”If you want your nephew, there he is, Captain Gildrock,” replied Pearl, pointing to the forward deck. ”I don't think you have any right to interfere with my affairs. I will put Dory Dornwood into one of your boats, and you can take him away with you.”

”All I want is my nephew; and I don't intend to meddle with what don't concern me,” said Captain Gildrock.

”That's the sort of man you are; and I always knew you were as straightforward as a gun,” added Pearl, delighted with this statement of the owner of the steamer. ”Which boat shall I put the boy into?”

Pearl sprang upon the forward deck, and rushed towards Dory. The boy did not take kindly to this proceeding. He dodged around the foremast, and leaped down into the standing-room.

”Captain Gildrock, this boat belongs to Dory, and Hawlinshed has taken her from him by force,” interposed the detective.

”My nephew stole the money with which he bought her,” added Captain Gildrock. ”I don't think he owns her any more than I do.”

”You are mistaken, sir. I don't know where your nephew got the money with which he bought this boat, but the charge made against him in Plattsburgh is not a true bill. I came over here to arrest Hawlinshed, and that is the reason why I am a prisoner in this coop at this moment.”

”You have no right to arrest me in the State of Vermont,” protested Pearl, standing on the forward deck. ”Captain Gildrock, this is a conspiracy. I had a little difficulty with my father, and this is a trumped-up charge to get me back to Plattsburgh.”

This was an entirely new presentation of the case, and Captain Gildrock was confused by the differing statements.

”I am not disposed to interfere in this business. I came for my nephew, and I was astonished and surprised to hear that he was accused of robbery. All I want is my nephew.”

”If you are willing to a.s.sist a robber to escape into Canada, Captain Gildrock, I have nothing further to say,” said Peppers. ”If you take your nephew away and leave things as you find them, that will be just what you will do.”

”Of course, I don't mean to render a.s.sistance to any fugitive from justice,” replied the captain, more perplexed than ever.

”If you will let us out of this place, I will prove to your satisfaction that Hawlinshed is a robber,” added the detective.

”And I can prove that I am the victim of a conspiracy,” protested Pearl.

”I can prove it by Dory Dornwood, if he will only speak the truth, which he never does, except by accident.”

”I am sorry to hear such bad stories about my nephew,” added the captain. ”I have been told that he was wild, and was going to ruin.”

”He can't deny that he had a talk with my father,” said Pearl; ”and my father and I don't agree very well.”

Dory thought they didn't agree at all, but he determined not to say a word on the forbidden topic. He had made up his mind in the beginning not to go on board of the Sylph, and the present aspect of things made him more decided than before. If his uncle and Pearl decided that he should go into one of the boats, he meant to jump into the water, and wade to the sh.o.r.e.

Captain Gildrock was silent, looking from the officer in the cuddy to Pearl. He was considering what he should do. Peppers thought it was a plain case. He desired the visitor to act for himself, after he had looked the case over, and listened to the facts.

”I think I will hear what you have to say, officer,” said he, after a few moments' reflection. ”It is none of my business; but I want my nephew, though I don't like to do any wrong in taking him away. The only way I can do to leave things as I find them is to let my nephew remain; and I can't do that under the present circ.u.mstances. Mr. Hawlinshed, will you unlock those doors?”

”No, sir: I will not!” replied Pearl haughtily. ”You are interfering with my affairs, and giving me away to my enemies. If you want your nephew, I will help you get him on board of the Sylph; but you have no business to let those men out when they want to cut my throat.”

”I only purpose to look into this matter; and, when I have done so, I shall act as I think my duty requires of me.”

”That man is not an officer in the State of Vermont; and he has no right to arrest me here,” added Pearl.

”I don't deal in quibbles, Mr. Hawlinshed. All I want to know now is, who has the right in the present situation? If I can ascertain the truth on this point, I don't care a straw whether we are in the State of Vermont or the State of New York. Will you open the doors of that cuddy?”

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