"Don't be surprised, Farnum, no matter whom you see me with. It's all
a part of the night's walk. Just follow us both, without letting your
presence be known at any stage. I know this all sounds mysterious, but
believe me, it's going to be vastly worth your while."

The remainder of the afternoon the boatbuilder's heart was, somehow,
heavy with undefined dread as to what he was to learn that night.

In the middle of the afternoon, Don Melville, with the aid of one of his
father's Italian workmen, laid the last stone in the edifice of
trickery that he was building for the crushing of Jack Benson.

"Jack was coming down the street from the village, when his steps were
arrested by the sound of a sharp:

"Hist!"

Turning, he saw an Italian workman, beckoning mysteriously. Jack went
curiously up to him.

"I have message for you--you alone," whispered the Italian, speaking
fairly good English. "You are in danger of great meanness. One of your
enemies plots it."

"You're one of the Melville workmen, aren't you?" asked Captain Jack,
looking curiously at the fellow.

"Yes, and you have bad, wicked enemies over at our place."

"I guess that may be true enough," smiled Jack, grimly.