CHAPTER XXXVI
AT PORTLAND
When Jack Marcy saw Will Bertram’s face at the window in the boat he instantly comprehended, as he had said, that some new villainy was afloat.
It was enough for him to know that he was a prisoner and in Captain Morris’ power.
He acted on a quick impulse as he saw movements on board the yacht which indicated that its crew were about to proceed rapidly.
Rushing to the captain of the ship which had brought them home, he asked, hurriedly: “Can we have a boat, captain?”
“What for?”
“To follow that yacht. The man we came back here to arrest is upon it, and a friend of ours is a prisoner aboard.”
A boat was instantly lowered, and Jack, Alan, and several sailors sprang to the oars.
Meanwhile, this action had been discerned from the yacht.
“They are coming on board, captain,” said Parker to Morris.
“We won’t let them.”
“Shall we crowd sail?”
“Yes.”
“We can soon outrun them,” and Parker gave the necessary orders to his assistants. They soon left the yawl behind.
They saw their disappointed pursuers abandon the chase and return to the ship.
“We’re safe, captain,” said Parker, triumphantly.
“For a time, yes.”
“They will follow us later, you think?”
“Of course. They have seen the boy.”
“You are sure of it?”
“Didn’t he shout to them? We must act quickly in what we do, Parker.”
“What is your plan?”
“To run to Portland.”
“They may follow us in a faster ship.”
“We have too great a start of them, and they may not suspect we are going there.”
“You intend to collect the insurance money?”
“Yes.”
“And then?”
“Land the boy and sail to some distant port.”
All that afternoon and night the yacht sailed before a swift breeze.
The next day about noon the craft landed at the wharf at Portland.
There had been no indications of a pursuing ship.
“I will return soon,” said Captain Morris.
He had taken the papers about the lost Moose with him, and his intention was to visit the office of the company in which the ship was insured.
He had nearly reached his destination when he drew back into the shelter of a doorway.
Just entering the building where the insurance company was located were three men.
Two of them he recognized as Jack Marcy and Alan Bertram.
The other he assumed to be a detective.
“They have suspected all,” he murmured, in deep chagrin, “and have hurried here by rail to prevent my collecting the money. There’s nothing left but flight now.”
He hurriedly returned to the yacht.
Parker stood conversing with a stranger, and his face was ominous of some new complicating disaster to their cherished plans.
“Are you Captain Morris?” asked the stranger.
“Yes. Get ready to sail, Parker.”
“Not just yet, captain,” said the stranger, coolly.
“What do you mean?”
“I have orders to keep the yacht and crew here for further orders.”
“Who from?”
“The chief of police.”
Morris’s face fell.
“I don’t understand,” he stammered.
“Oh, yes you do, captain,” replied the stranger. “I’m a detective, and your scheme to collect money for a ship you sunk is known.”
Morris stood dumbfounded for a moment or two.
There was a dangerous gleam in his eye as he asked the stranger:
“I am under arrest, then?”
“Well, yes. That’s about it. Some officers will be here shortly.”
“The charge is a false one,” ventured Morris.
“The two men who came from Watertown an hour since and went with a detective to the office of the insurance company and sent me here to watch for the yacht, don’t seem to think so.”
“They have no proofs.”
“They have evidence enough to demand your arrest. Then there is the proof the boy furnished.”
“What boy?”
“The one you have locked up in the hold of the yacht.”
Captain Morris looked utterly crestfallen.
“What proof?” he stammered out.
“He seemed to have dropped a rough penciled letter telling of your intention of coming here, from the cabin window. It was picked up by his brother and his companion.”
Captain Morris was in a desperate strait.
The evidence against him was overwhelming, and he realized would certainly send him to prison.
He acted promptly in his dilemma.
Suddenly, seizing an iron bar lying near at hand, he dealt the detective a heavy blow.
The latter sank insensible to the deck.
“Fling him on the wharf,” ordered Morris, excitedly, “and set sail for the open sea at once.”
Ten minutes later, when other officers came to the place, they found their fellow officer just recovering from the effects of Captain Morris’ stunning blow and the yacht gone.
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