“Precisely.  That’s the port for us and you told us to choose for ourselves,” said Smith.

“Well, I won’t have it, that’s all,” exclaimed Brewster, indignantly.  “Captain Perry takes orders from me and from no one else.”

“He already has his orders,” said DeMille, smiling mysteriously.

“I’ll see about that.  Brewster sprang to the door.  It was locked and the key was in “Subway” Smith’s pocket.  With an impatient exclamation he turned and pressed an electric button.

“It won’t ring, Monty,” explained “Subway.”  “The wire has been cut.  Now, be cool for a minute or two and we’ll talk it over.”

Brewster stormed for five minutes, the “delegation” sitting calmly by, smiling with exasperating confidence.  At last he calmed down and in terms of reason demanded an explanation.  He was given to understand that the yacht would sail for Boston and that he would be kept a prisoner for the entire voyage unless he submitted to the will of the majority.

Brewster listened darkly to the proclamation.  He saw that they had gained the upper hand by a clever ruse, and that only strategy on his part could outwit them.  It was out of the question for him to submit to them now that the controversy had assumed the dignity of a struggle.

“But you will be reasonable, won’t you?” asked DeMille, anxiously.

“I intend to fight it out to the bitter end,” said Brewster, his eyes flashing.  “At present I am your prisoner, but it is a long way to Boston.”

For three days and two nights the “Flitter” steamed westward into the Atlantic, with her temporary owner locked into his stateroom.  The confinement was irksome, but he rather liked the sensation of being interested in something besides money.  He frequently laughed to himself over the absurdity of the situation.  His enemies were friends, true and devoted; his gaolers were relentless but they were considerate.  The original order that he should be guarded by one man was violated on the first day.  There were times when his guard numbered at least ten persons and some of them served tea and begged him to listen to reason.

“It is difficult not to listen,” he said fiercely.  “It’s like holding a man down and then asking him to be quiet.  But my time is coming.”

“Revenge will be his!” exclaimed Mrs. Dan, tragically.

“You might have your term shortened on account of good conduct if you would only behave,” suggested Peggy, whose reserve was beginning to soften.  “Please be good and give in.”

“I haven’t been happier during the whole cruise,” said Monty.  “On deck I wouldn’t be noticed, but here I am quite the whole thing.  Besides I can get out whenever I feel like it.”

“I have a thousand dollars which says you can’t,” said DeMille, and Monty snapped him up so eagerly that he added, “that you can’t get out of your own accord.”

Monty acceded to the condition and offered odds on the proposition to the others, but there were no takers.