tings?"

"Why, yes, we happen to serve under him; that's all."

"Tell it to the marines," replied the man with sarcasm. "I am not asking
you to admit anything, for I know enough now."

"Oh, all right," said Frank.

"Climb into my boat," ordered their captor.

The lads complied.

"Say," said Frank, "this is Lord Hastings' motorboat. He told us not to
lose it. Tie it on behind and pull it along, will you?"

"We'll pull it along all right," replied their captor. "Now the best
thing you fellows can do is to keep quiet."

The lads obeyed this gruff command, for they had nothing particular to
talk about.

Half an hour later the motorboat docked at Gravesend and the boys were
ordered to climb out, which they did, under the noses of their captors'
weapons.

"Where to now?" asked Frank.

"Where I tell you," was the reply.

Jack was struck by a sudden thought.

"Will you tell me what time it is, sir?" he asked the leader of the
party which surrounded them.

"As you ask in such a polite way, I shall do so," was the reply. "I
wouldn't tell this other fellow anything. He's too smart." He produced
his watch, and after a glance at it, said: "Five minutes to ten."

"By George!" exclaimed Jack. "And we were to meet Lord Hastings at the
Lion Inn at 10 o'clock."

"I can promise you'll be at the Lion Inn at 10 o'clock," replied the
leader of the capturing party, "but whether you will find Lord Hastings
there I can't say."

"You mean you are taking us there?" asked Jack.

"Exactly."

"That's what I call luck," broke in Frank. "We'll be all right in a few
moments now, Jack."

"You'll be all right till in the morning, I can guarantee that," growled
their captor.

At the door of the inn he motioned them to enter ahead of him. They did
so and the first person on whom their eyes rested was Lord Hastings.

"Well, I see you are on time----" the latter began, and then broke off
as he saw the armed men behind them.

"Yes, sir, we are on time," replied Frank with a smile, "and we have
brought company to see you, sir!"

CHAPTER III.

A LESSON.

Lord Hastings was on his feet by this time and advanced toward the two
lads and their captors.

"What's the meaning of this?" he demanded of the man who appeared to be
the leader.

"We caught these fellows scooting down the Thames in a high-power
motorboat, sir," was the reply. "They were unable to give a satisfactory
account of themselves and one of them took a s