"Yes, but I couldn't cotch him nohow. Dar was big piles ob boxes an' barrels on de dock and he got away befo' I know wot I was at. I hunted an' hunted, but I couldn't git on his track."
"This is certainly unpleasant, to say the least," mused Dick, biting his lip. "If he is watching us he is doing it for no good purpose."
"Dat's de way. I reasoned. But I didn't want de ladies to heah. Mrs.
Stanhope am a powerfully narvous woman."
"Yes, Aleck, you were wise in keeping them in ignorance. But I'll have to tell Tom and Sam and the other fellows, and we'll have to keep our eyes open."
"Is you' goin' to report dis to de police?"
"I may. I'll think it over first. Now, how about the houseboat? Has
Captain Starr done as directed?"
"Yes, sah."
"What kind of a man does he seem to he?"
"All right, Massah Dick, only—"
"Only what?" asked the eldest Rover, as he saw the colored servant hesitate.