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.

"Now, what does this whole affair mean?" demanded George Melville.

"As far as I understand it," answered Jack's employer, stiffly, "it looks
as though your son and yourself had framed up a scene, to be witnessed
in poor light, at night, in which my young captain would appear to be
hound enough to sell out Pollard's business secrets, and mine."

"I can assure you," said the capitalist, coldly, "that I had nothing to
do with any deception."

"Then your son, without your knowledge, fixed up to-night's affair."