o the water, and
wade to the shore.

Captain Gildrock was silent, looking from the officer in the cuddy to
Pearl. He was considering what he should do. Peppers thought it was a
plain case. He desired the visitor to act for himself, after he had
looked the case over, and listened to the facts.

"I think I will hear what you have to say, officer," said he, after a
few moments' reflection. "It is none of my business; but I want my
nephew, though I don't like to do any wrong in taking him away. The only
way I can do to leave things as I find them is to let my nephew remain;
and I can't do that under the present circumstances. Mr. Hawlinshed,
will you unlock those doors?"

"No, sir: I will not!" replied Pearl haughtily. "You are interfering
with my affairs, and giving me away to my enemies. If you want your
nephew, I will help you get him on board of the Sylph; but you have no
business to let those men out when they want to cut my throat."

"I only purpose to look into this matter; and, when I have done so, I
shall act as I think my duty requires of me."

"That man is not an officer in the State of Vermont; and he has no right
to arrest me here," added Pearl.

"I don't deal in quibbles, Mr. Hawlinshed. All I want to know now is,
who has the right in the present situation? If I can ascertain the truth
on this point, I don't care a straw whether we are in the State of
Vermont or the State of New York. Will you open the doors of that
cuddy?"

"No, sir: I will not! And I will not allow anybody else to interfere
with my affairs," answered Pearl angrily.

"I am going to open those doors," added Captain Gildrock decidedly.

"I don't believe you will," said Pearl, as he took the key of the
padlock from his pocket.

He held it up so that the captain could see it, and then jerked it into
the lake. It struck the water about fifty feet from the boat. The next
instant Dory dropped into the water, and waded in the direction the
villain had thrown it. He had kept his eye on the spot where it had
fallen; and the water was so clear that he could see the grains of sand
on the bottom.

Pearl saw that his purpose was likely to be defeated by the prompt
action of the boy; and, before any one could stop him, he had leaped
into the water after Dory.

"That man will drown your nephew if you let him do it, Captain
Gildrock!" exclaimed Peppers, as he saw Pearl leap into the water.

But the captain had no intention of being a passive