Leaving the negro to satisfy his appetite and wash the dishes, the boys repaired to the pilot house for a conference. There detailed explanations of all that had happened since Harry and Arnold left for a fishing trip were made, while Frank Evans and Charley Burnett told their story of the incidents in which they had been concerned.
"I'm puzzled over two things," stated Jack at length.
"What are they?" queried Arnold. "Ask me, I can tell you."
"First, I'm puzzled over the sudden turn of front in Doright."
"That's a fact," was Tom's rejoinder. "He has turned his coat mighty sudden. I wonder what caused him to do it. Let's ask him."
This was no sooner proposed than it met with instant favor. Doright was called from his labor to join the meeting.
"Doright," Jack began in a kindly tone. "We have had reason to believe that you were opposed to us in times past. We knew that you were working against us and that you helped make prisoners of these lads here. Now what we want to know is, why should you turn about and tell us when they were just being put out of the way?"
Breathlessly the boys all leaned forward to catch the story.
"Well, sir, Boss, hit's jess like this here," began Doright. "Mah name's Doright Abraham Jefferson Davis Canaan. Ah fergit the rest. Ever sense Ah was little Ah been told by mah mammy to do right--Doright! Dat's mah name and Ah tries to do right."
"Thanks," smiled Jack. "Now tell me why you changed so."