Barney were too clouded for clear interpretation, but he knew there was
no more uncertainty in his mind after he had sought the Captain out and
offered to put him on board the _Kentigern_.

Hodges fairly wept his gratitude. "Dan, Dan, you say you can put me
aboard the _Kentigern_! You'll save my business if you do. I don't
care about the towing part, because if I can get aboard and pilot her
in, I can hand the towing over to those who'll take care of me. Dan,
you're a good boy. How'll you do it?"

"No time to tell now," said Dan. "Meet me at Pier 3 in an hour."

"Say," cried Captain Barney, as Dan hurried away; "how much'll it be?
Not too much--"

Dan stopped short.

"Nothing!" he roared. "It's--it's a Christmas present."




CHAPTER III

A FIGHT IN THE DARK

The short gray December twilight was creeping over the bay as Dan
pulled out from the Battery basin in a boat which he kept there for
recreative jaunts about the harbor. Hard pulling and cold it was, but
the boatman bent his back and shot up the East River with the strength