Arlington permitted Merriwell to lead him from the cabin.
“Oh, June!” palpitated Doris, “I don’t understand it yet! Can’t you explain?”
“Yes, I will,” said June, although it plainly cost her a great effort. “Chester made me promise to bring you on board. He threatened to do something reckless if I didn’t. He said he would simply back off into the harbor as a joke. But I feared he might not be telling the truth. I was afraid I couldn’t trust him, and I sent a note to Dick Merriwell, asking him to come on board. I also arranged with the captain that he should be permitted to do so. That’s how he happened to be here.”
“June,” said Doris, “do you think Dick will make the captain turn back?”
“I think my brother will give that order, as Dick requested. Let’s go on deck.”
When they reached the deck they discovered that the yacht was already slackening headway. It came to a full stop, backed up a short distance, and then swung slowly around.
The girls stood, each with an arm about the other, as the dark buildings on shore drew nearer and nearer. At length, with the sound of signal bells in the engine room, the yacht came softly to the wharf, and two sailors threw out a plank after the hawsers were made fast.
Dick appeared before June and Doris, while in the background was seen the form of another boy, who stood there without approaching or interfering.
“Come, Doris,” said Merriwell, “I will take you to the academy. June, you did well to write me that note and arrange it for me to come aboard[aboard]. Good night, June!”
“Good night, Dick!” she murmured. “Good night, Doris!”