nstant;
but he realized that he was in the midst of a stirring adventure, and
the blinds could be easily restored.

"Good!" exclaimed Pearl, as the opening appeared in the door. "You did
that very well, Peppers. I was wishing I could leave the helm long
enough to do it myself, for I wanted to see who the other fellow was
that had taken passage with me. Besides, I think it is a good deal more
sociable to see a man's face when you are talking to him."

"Of course you know, Hawlinshed, that you are resisting an officer, and
obstructing him in the discharge of his duty?" demanded Peppers,
beginning to be a little more demonstrative as he failed to appreciate
the humor of the new skipper.

"Of course I understand that I am obstructing an officer,--a New-York
officer over here in Vermont," chuckled Pearl. "By the way, Peppers,
have you such a thing about you as a pistol of any kind,--a revolver, a
seven-shooter, or any toy of this sort?"

"I haven't any such thing about me. If I had, I should shoot you the
next thing I did," answered Peppers petulantly.

"Oh, no! You wouldn't do such a thing as that. It might hurt me," said
Pearl with a laugh.

"That is to say"--continued Peppers; and it was plain to Dory that Moody
had indicated to him that he had made a blunder in telling the rascal
that he had no dangerous weapon.

"That is to say that you haven't any pistol, but the other fellow has
one," added Pearl. "By the way, who is the other fellow? It would be a
good deal more sociable if you would introduce him."

"His name is Moody, and he will be very glad to make your acquaintance,
Hawlinshed."

"If he has got a pistol, it might go off, and hurt one of you in that
narrow place; and I think you had better hand it out, and have it
properly taken care of," continued Pearl.

"Moody has four pistols, all of them seven-shooters," said the
detective, who seemed to be determined effectually to counteract the
influence of the blunder he had made.

"Four seven-shooters!" exclaimed Pearl. "He is a walking arsenal. He
would sink if he should fall overboard with such a weight of arms upon
him; and I think he had better pass them out through the hole you have
been so kind as to make."

"He concludes that he may want them, and he don't mean to fall
overboard," replied Peppers.

"All right! but let him be very careful with them; for pistols are
dangerous things in such a little hole as you now occupy," answered
Pearl, who was