"While you are washing your face I will go out and see if that man is
around anywhere," said Joe, finally, "an' I'll lock the door and take
the key with me so's there won't be any chance of his gettin' in while
I'm gone."

Ned did not much like being left alone, but he made no objections,
since he could readily see that it was of the highest importance that
they should learn if the man and his companion were watching for them.

Joe went into every portion of the boat in which passengers are
allowed; but without seeing either Ned's captor or his companion. Had
he been on deck when the steamer arrived at Newport, he would have
seen the two men land there, after searching vainly for the boy they
had stolen, much as if they feared they might be called to an account
for what they had done. Of this, of course, Joe knew nothing; and when
he failed to see either of the men, he naturally feared they were
waiting on shore in the hope of catching Ned as he landed.

It was but seven o'clock, and as a number of the passengers were yet on
board, the stewards had paid no attention to the stateroom the boys
occupied; otherwise an explanation might have been made which would
have prevented both the young passengers' much trouble.

"It's morning, Ned, an' I s'pose we're in Providence," said Joe, as he
came back to the stateroom where the child was waiting, in fear and
trembling, the result of his trip on deck. "I can't see anything of the
men, an' perhaps if we go on shore now they won't catch us. We've got
to 'take these valises, for the man told me to watch 'em, an' that
means that I've got to keep right side of 'em."