“Return that to my son, at once,” insisted the capitalist.

Jack, this time, did not even honor the command so far as to admit having heard it.

Broughton Emerson, deeply puzzled, had left group to go over to Mr. Farnum and the strange boy in blue.

“Jack!” called the boatbuilder, and Benson ran to him.

“Do you think you can fasten onto this youth, and prevent his getting away from us?” asked Jacob Farnum.

“I’m rather sure of it,” nodded Benson.

“Then keep your eye on the fellow, Jack.  He’s got to go to jail.  He’s been engaged in some conspiracy against us, and I’m going to fathom it all, and have the fellow sent up for years and years at hard labor.”

The fellow whom Jack was now holding heard this with a start and a shiver.

“You hear that, Don Melville?” he gasped.  “Remember, you promised to see me through safely, if any trouble happened.  You’ve got to keep your word.”

“Hold your tongue if you think I’m going to do anything for you,” growled Don.

“If you don’t stand by me,” threatened the prisoner, “I’ll make things warm for you—­and you know I can do it!”

Don paled, visibly, under that threat.

“Ho, ho!” laughed Jacob Farnum.  “When thieves fall out—­”

“Mr. Farnum, sir,” thundered the elder Melville, stalking over to where the boatbuilder stood, “do you realize you’re talking about my son?”

“Well, why not?” asked Mr. Farnum, coolly.  “It’s becoming pretty evident that he isn’t a bit too good to be talked about.”

“What does all this hubbub and outrage mean, anyway?” cried George Melville.

“It looks to me,” rejoined Farnum, coolly, “as though your son would have the extensive task of informing us.”

“Come on, father; let’s be getting away from these people,” proposed Don.  “But what are you going to do with that young man?”

“In the name of the Commonwealth,” replied the boatbuilder, “I’ve placed this young man under arrest, and I’m going to deliver him up to the authorities.  He has been engaged in a conspiracy, and must suffer for his full share in the affair.  If he confesses, and implicates others, they’ll have to stand the consequences.”

Again Don lost color, though now he was careful not to betray himself any further.  But he hesitated, afraid to go away, lest Jack’s prisoner be led into betraying him.

“Start your young man towards the road, Jack,” directed Mr. Farnum, who now had the envelopes taken from Don and the stranger.

Jack started, holding to the arm of his late impersonator.

“Mr. Farnum, may I have a word with you?” asked George Melville, as the others walked along.

“Mr. Emerson,” urged the boatbuilder, “will you walk on the other side of Captain Benson’s prisoner?  I want to make sure that no attempt at rescue is made.”

Broughton Emerson readily nodded his agreement, and stepped up ahead.  As for Don, he fell in behind this group, while Messrs. Melville and Farnum walked still more to the rear.