Part 21 (2/2)

”A boat?” he queried, in mild surprise, ”and what is your name,-- my little man?”

I started to tell him, and then it struck me, that we had given our real names to the constable at Bailey's Harbor, and that I might get into trouble if I told mine again, here. I tried to think of another name to give, but as I hadn't made up one in advance, it seemed to stick. Of course, I had often read of various kinds of criminals and desperadoes who went under false names, and also of people who were no more criminals than we, who had to give names other than their own. There were spies in war- time, for instance. These people in books all seemed to do it easily enough, and so I could have done, if I had had one ready.

As it was I stammered over it.

”Sam-er-er-Jim-er-James B-B-Brown,” I said at last.

”Sam Jim James Brown!” he said, in his b.u.t.tery tones, ”well, Sam Jim James Brown, what is it you want here?”

I told him again about the boat, and how they told us at Lanesport that Captain Bannister was coming to Rogers's Island to look for her.

”What kind of a boat is it?” said the other man. I had succeeded at last in getting the tall man to let go of my hand, and I backed a little away from him. I described the ”Hoppergra.s.s” as well as I could, and told about the Captain's notion for changing the name.

”A white cat-boat, hey?” said the little man, ”and Captain Bannister,--oh, yes! of Lanesport? Captain Bannister of Lanesport?”

”No, he comes--”

”No? Are you sure? He's been in Lanesport lately, hasn't he?”

”Oh, yes. That's where he lost the 'Hoppergra.s.s.'”

”That's the man!” said he, ”that's the man. Now, I tell you what.

He isn't here now, but I expect he will be here tomorrow. You've heard about the excursion, of course?”

”Yes,--I read the hand-bills.”

”Well, I understand he is coming here tomorrow. Now, have you got to go back to Lanesport tonight?”

”Just a second,--excuse me just a second, Professor,” put in the tall man, ”I'd like a word with you just for a second. You'll excuse me, young man, if I confer with the Professor for a second.

An important matter of business, you know.”

He drew the Professor, as he called him, some little distance up the wharf, where they whispered together for three or four minutes. The tall man kept his hand on the Professor's shoulder and seemed very earnest in what he was saying.

Then they came back to me.

”Were you going back to Lanesport tonight?” asked the Professor.

”Yes,” I replied, ”if I didn't find Captain Bannister.”

”I don't believe you can now,” said he, looking at his watch.

”It's half past four, and the last car leaves the Cove at four.

Besides, your surest way to find this Captain Bannister is to stay right here. He'll be here tomorrow, sure. Then you can go back on the steamboat at noon, if you want to. We'll fix you up for tonight, and make you comfortable. What do you say?”

There didn't seem to be any way out of it. If it had been the tall man alone I would have walked all the way back to Lanesport rather than stay. I never saw anyone whom I disliked so much, from the very first instant. But the Professor seemed perfectly straightforward. The cars had stopped, and I was left here on Rogers's Island, and might as well make the best of it. Besides if Captain Bannister were coming in the morning it was foolish to lose this chance of finding him.

I decided to stay, and told them that I would do so.

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