CHAPTER XXXIII
ON THE YACHT
For fully two minutes there was a lapse of dead silence, broken only by the commotion in the outside bar room.
Will sat watching Morris in the half-light of the apartment with the keenest satisfaction.
He realized that the latter was tormented over what he knew from Will’s disclosures to be the wreck of all his evil schemes.
For if the true story of the Albatross was known, and his attempt to wreck the Golden Moose made public he might lose both his fortune and his liberty.
It was not Will’s intention to reveal the entire truth to him, however.
He was, in fact, now sorry that he had warned him to the extent he had.
Finally, the captain said:
“You say you don’t know where Jack Marcy is?”
“Not positively.”
“Why not?”
“Because I got separated from him and the others.”
“What others?”
“Castaways who were with us.”
“Well?”
“And I floated out to sea on a cake of ice.”
“And was picked up?”
“Yes, and brought to Portland. Now then, Captain Morris, I’ve answered your questions and I wish to go.”
“To tell people all about the Albatross?”
“Why not?”
“It will show my former story to have been a lie.”
“Well, ain’t it one?”
“Maybe. You’re a dangerous enemy to my interests, and for self-protection, I think I’ll keep you here a few days.”
“No, you won’t.”
Will had made a dash for the door.
Before Morris could interrupt him he had opened it and sprang into the next apartment.
As he did so and attempted to rush past the men who were there, one of them put his feet out.
As Will stumbled over and fell to the floor he recognized him.
It was Donald Parker, the manager and confidant of Captain Morris.
He seemed to understand that Will was trying to escape.
“Stop that boy!” yelled Morris from the next room.
Parker sprang to the door and blocked Will’s exit.
The latter turned to three men seated drinking and smoking.
“They are trying to keep me here against my will!” he cried.
At that moment Captain Morris entered the room.
With a single blow of his fist, he knocked Will to the floor.
“You’ve killed him, captain,” spoke Parker, concernedly.
“Nonsense, he’s only stunned. See here, men, you all know me?”
“Very well, captain,” chimed in the denizens of the bar room.
“I’m your friend, and we’re working for mutual interests.”
“In the smuggling trade; eh, captain?” laughed one of the men.
“Never mind. This boy may ruin all our plans.”
“Don’t let him.”
“I don’t intend to. I intend to keep him a close prisoner for a few days, and no one must know of his being here. You understand, Jones?” he said, turning to the landlord.
“You get me my liquor too cheap to have me meddle with your business,” replied the tavern keeper.
“Now boys,” continued Morris, “we must get him out of here.”
“When?”
“At once.”
“Where are you going to take him to?”
“To the old yacht.”
“Anchored near Watertown?”
“Yes.”
“How are we going to get him there?”
“One of you secure a horse and wagon at once.”
Parker started out to fill Morris’ order.
“When we get to the yacht I’ll explain this affair to you,” said the captain to the men.
Half an hour later Morris, Parker, and the three men, who were evidently familiar associates, left the bar room.
The captain exhorted the landlord to keep silent about Will, which he agreed to do.
Will was placed, still insensible from Morris’ cowardly blow, in a wagon.
An hour or two later it stopped at a point on the coast near Watertown.
Here a large yacht was moored.
Will was placed in a compartment behind the little cabin of the yacht, in a rude bunk, still insensible.
The horse and wagon were sent back to Princeton with one of the men, who was engaged to return as soon as possible.
It was about midnight when Will awoke.
He had a dull pain in his head, and he could not at first comprehend his situation.
A small glass bull’s-eye looked out on the water, and through the cracks in the door, he could see a light.
He then decided that he was on a boat of some kind.
He peered through the cracks of the door and uttered a sigh of dismay.
For he was still in the power of his enemy.
Captain Morris and his four associates were seated at a table drinking.
Parker was saying:
“The boy sleeps a long time, Captain. Maybe he’ll never wake up.”
“It might be the best thing for us if he never did,” was Morris’ brutal reply. “Now, then, mates, let me explain to you my scheme, and why this boy’s appearance bids fair to spoil it for us.”
Will came nearer to the door and prepared to listen to some startling revelations.
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