rd.

"Vincent!" exclaimed Mr. Watson, when he turned to see who his midnight
visitor was.

"Yes, sir," replied the steward. "You will pardon me for bringing him
here, sir; but I did not know what else to do with him."

"Vincent, where is my daughter?" demanded the merchant, earnestly.

"She is on her way to Australia," replied Dock, who was now beginning
to recover his self-possession, and to measure the consequences of his
misfortune.

"I beg to suggest, Mr. Watson, that his reply is a wretched falsehood,"
interposed the steward. "I heard him tell Mr. Fairfield that his vessel
wasn't a great ways from New York."

"In the latitude of New York, I meant merely. Mr. Watson, this man is
making a mess of it for you. I made my demand of you by letter. Give me
the money, and your daughter shall be restored. If you don't, you will
never see her again, whatever may happen to me," said Dock.

"Not a dollar! Not a penny!" replied Mr. Watson, with emphasis.

"Very well, Mr. Watson. You will discover your mistake soon enough,"
added Dock.

"We want an officer and a pair of handcuffs," said Mr. Watson. "Can you
keep him while I procure assistance?"

"I can," answered Augustus, confidently, as he displayed his pistol.

Mr. Watson called his two men, and sent one of them for Constable
Cooke, who was the only officer available at that hour of the night. He
came, and the villain was ironed. The constable and the steward kept
guard over him till morning.

CHAPTER XXIII.

OFF SANDY HOOK.

Levi did not learn that the great enemy had been captured till he went
up in the morning to relieve the steward; but the news was spreading
rapidly, and it came to his ear before he reached his station. He
hastened to the house of Mr. Watson, where Constable Cooke and the
steward still kept vigil over the fallen foe. The officer evidently did
not relish his employment; but Mr. C. Augustus Ebenier had proved that
he was a first-class tiger, as well as an exquisite of the first water.

Mr. Watson had another interview with the wretch as soon as Levi
arrived; but Dock Vincent was as obstinate as a mule. He took no pains
to conceal the fact that he enjoyed the distress of the suffering
father and the intense anxiety of Levi. The prisoner was to be examined
before Squire Saunders during the forenoon, and it was hoped that some
development of the plan of the conspirator would be obtained.

By the morning train came Mr. Gayles. The st