lain, the port boat came alongside, and Captain
Gildrock stepped on board the Goldwing.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THROUGH VARIED STRIFE AND STRUGGLES.

Captain Royal Gildrock was not over forty-five years of age. He was
dressed in the uniform of his yacht. He was a good-looking man, of
middling height, and rather stout. A single glance at his face would
have assured any one skilled in reading expressions that he was a person
of great force of character.

"What's going on here, Mr. Jepson?" said he, as he glanced curiously
about the Goldwing.

"That is what I was trying to find out when you came on board, sir,"
replied Mr. Jepson. "Theodore and the man in charge of the boat appear
to be at sword's points, and there are two men in the cuddy who seem to
be fastened in there."

"What does all this mean?" asked Captain Gildrock. And it was apparent
now that he was the owner of the gruff voice.

"I will tell you all about it, sir," replied Peppers, taking this duty
upon himself.

"I shall be glad to know, for the skipper of the boat has behaved in the
most unaccountable manner."

Dory had retreated to the forward deck again when his uncle came on
board, though the captain did not seem to be such a terrible man as one
might have supposed from the conduct of his nephew. He desired to keep
as far as possible from his uncle.

"I wish you would let me out of this place before I tell the story,"
suggested the detective.

"Why don't you come out if you wish to do so?" asked Captain Gildrock.

"We are locked in. Hawlinshed took the key away from Dory Dornwood by
force, and has kept us prisoners ever since. It isn't a bad place; but
it is rather confined for a long stay," added Peppers.

"But I didn't lock them in there," added Pearl. "That was done by Dory."

"Have you the key?" asked the captain, turning to Pearl.

"If you want your nephew, there he is, Captain Gildrock," replied
Pearl, pointing to the forward deck. "I don't think you have any right
to interfere with my affairs. I will put Dory Dornwood into one of your
boats, and you can take him away with you."

"All I want is my nephew; and I don't intend to meddle with what don't
concern me," said Captain Gildrock.

"That's the sort of man you are; and I always knew you were as
straightforward as a gun," added Pearl, delighted with this statement of
the owner of the steamer. "Which boat shall I put the boy into?"

Pearl sprang upon the forward deck, and rush