ldrock; and he don't go
out of his way to assist poor and distressed fellow-creatures like you."

"How far off is she, Dory?" asked the officer.

"She is half way across Cumberland Bay; and I should think she was four
miles off, or thereabouts," answered Dory.

"Just about four: that was a good guess, Dory Dornwood," added the
skipper.

"Can't you hail her if she comes near us?" suggested Peppers.

"No, he can't!" exclaimed Pearl sharply. "It would be cruel of you to
ask him to do such a thing; for as sure as he makes a sign to that
steamer, or to any other craft, I will throw him overboard, with his
hands tied behind him."

"It would be cruel of you to do such a thing, Hawlinshed."

"I know it would, and I shall not do it unless you compel me to act in
self-defence."

"Where is this thing to end?" demanded Peppers in a disgusted tone of
voice.

"Somewhere up in Canada, I guess," replied Pearl. "I don't believe it
will end before we get there, and I think we shall be over the line some
time to-night."

"Then you intend to take us into Canada, Hawlinshed?"

"Yes: unless we can make some better arrangement. If you prefer to land
at some point on Grand Island, I think we could fix it so as to
accommodate you."

"How can we fix it?" asked Peppers rather anxiously.

"I have been thinking the matter over, and I believe I have a plan by
which I might safely oblige you," said Pearl. "I have concluded not to
go back to Plattsburgh: in fact, I don't believe I should be comfortable
and happy there."

"I don't believe you would," added the officer significantly. "We should
be apt to make it warm for you."

"Why so, Peppers? You and I have always been good friends, and we never
quarrelled. Why should we now?"

"We shouldn't, and I don't intend to quarrel with you. But in my private
opinion you will spend the greater part of the rest of your days within
the stone walls."

"I don't intend to do any thing of the sort; and I don't believe I
shall, if I only take good care of you while I have you as a passenger."

"But how can we fix this matter?" inquired the officer.

"If you will put your hands behind you, and then put them out through
that hole you have made, I will fasten them together, as I have Dory
Dornwood's. I will do the same with your roommate; and then I will land
all three of you at Wilcox Cove, or some other good place. How does this
plan strike you?"

"It don't strike me at all," protested Dory.