“They slipped in?”
“They sure did.”
“I hope they won’t drown,” went on Sobber, uneasily.
“Oh, they are safe enough. I heard ’em swimming around until they found the rocks to stand on.”
“Good enough. Now, what do you think we had better do with this one?”
“Why don’t you make him join his brothers?” answered Jim Pally. And then he motioned Sobber to one side, out of Dick’s hearing. A conversation in a low tone followed. Pally was telling Sobber they had better be on guard, since the Rovers might not be alone. Then he told of the meeting with Koswell, Larkspur and Darkingham; and the two went off to consult with Josiah Crabtree.
Left to himself, Dick tried his best to free himself of the bonds that held him. But the work of making him a prisoner had been done well, and all he did was to cut his wrists and his ankles.
When Sobber and Pally came back they were accompanied by Josiah Crabtree. The former teacher and jailbird wore the same dictatorial look as of yore.
“Ha! so we meet again, Rover!” cried Josiah Crabtree, pursing up his lips.
“Mr. Crabtree, is it true that you have married Mrs. Stanhope?” asked Dick, bluntly.