e changed her course; but she still
kept in position to head off the schooner if she attempted to escape to
the eastward.

"Get ready to go ashore, Dory Dornwood," said Pearl in one of his mild
tones.

Dory made no reply. He was fully resolved not to do any thing of the
sort. If he went on shore, and submitted to the villain's plan to escape
from his pursuers, he could hardly expect ever to see the Goldwing
again. But he considered it the safest way to say nothing about the
purpose in his mind.

"You will tell the captain of the Sylph the state of things on board of
this boat, Dory," said Peppers, who had no objection to the plan; for he
thought Captain Gildrock would make a business of liberating him and his
companion in the cuddy as soon as he was informed of their condition.

"Tell him any thing you like, Dory Dornwood, as soon as you get on board
of the steamer," added Pearl. "Are you ready to go on shore?"

"If I must go on shore, I suppose I must," replied Dory in a
non-committal way. "What is to become of my boat if I go ashore?"

"You can have her again when I have done with her," answered Pearl in a
coaxing tone; for, if he could get rid of his pursuers, he cared for
nothing else just then.

"Where shall I be likely to find her?" asked Dory in a tone which
indicated his incredulity.

"You will find her in Missisquoi Bay, on the northern shore, Dory; and
she will be in as good condition as she is now."

"Perhaps I shall find her there," added Dory.

"I will"--But, before Pearl could say what he would do, the centre-board
of the boat dragged in the sand on the bottom.

The skipper hastened to raise it, but a few moments later it struck
again. Pearl hoisted it up as far as he could, and then kept the
schooner away a few points; for she would no longer lie up to the wind
as closely as before. In this way he succeeded in getting the boat
within about a hundred feet of the shore, and then the Goldwing grounded
on her bottom.

The water was not more than three feet deep at the stem of the boat, and
it was impossible to get her any nearer to the dry land on the beach.
Pearl bit his lip; for both of the boats of the Sylph were pulling
towards the schooner, and Peppers would soon have an audience to whom
he could tell his story.

"I can't get any nearer the shore, Dory," said Pearl, not a little
agitated. "You must jump into the water, and wade ashore."

Dory leaped upon the forward deck, and Pearl prob