where he
can hold him," added Mat. "Levi has gone off to Portland to sail in the
race, and he can't do anything for you this time. If you have a mind to
write to your father, and tell him to come down with the rocks, I will
see that he gets the letter within a week or so. He must put down about
a hundred thousand dollars this time."

"Poor girl!" ejaculated Mrs. Vincent. "I pity you; but my husband is an
awful man, and I can't do anything about it."

"We haven't anything against her," said Mat. "She is to have a
state-room by herself, and live like a lady. That's the captain's
orders. The matter rests there, and it isn't any use to say anything
more about it."

Mat went on deck, leaving Bessie to weep over her unhappy fate, with no
one but Mrs. Vincent to comfort her.

CHAPTER XX.

DOCK VINCENT'S LETTER.

Mr. Watson drove to Gloucester; but at this hour in the evening he had
some difficulty in finding the telegraphic operator, and it was fully
ten o'clock before he returned to his house in Rockport, ready to go on
board of the yacht.

"Why, I thought you had gone!" exclaimed Mrs. Watson, when her husband
presented himself.

"No; I was detained in Gloucester. Where is Bessie."

"Bessie has gone on board of the yacht. Mat Mogmore came for her, and
said you had gone off in the steward's boat."

"There is some mistake about it," replied Mr. Watson; but he had no
idea of the stupendous mistake which had been made.

He went out to the pier; but, having no boat, he hastened over to the
Point to obtain a skiff, though he could not see why a boat from The
Starry Flag was not waiting for him. All was still on the Point; but he
found a dory, in which he pulled off to the place where the yacht
usually lay when in port. He could not find her. It was evident that
she had sailed; and it was more certain than before that a great
mistake had been made. He returned to the Point. Mr. Gayles was there.
He had come down to assure himself that the Caribbee had not stolen a
march upon him. He could not see her in the gloom of the night. He
recognized Mr. Watson, as he landed from the dory.

"Did you see the Caribbee?" asked the constable.

"No; did you see the yacht?" demanded the anxious father.

"I did not."

Mr. Watson stated the circumstances; but the officer could neither
assist nor enlighten him.

The Starry Flag was miles away to the north-north-east, and the
Caribbee was miles away to the south-south-east