“You fellows are nicely rigged out—fine motor boat, and all that,” one of the men in the boat shouted, “but the days of river pirates on the St. Lawrence are over. You are all under arrest.”
“Gee whiz!” shouted Alex. “Is this what you call a pinch?”
“It is what we call a clean-up,” replied one of the men in the boat, rowing up to the Rambler. “We’ve been watching for you fellows, and now we’ve got you.”
“And what are you going to do with us?” asked Clay restraining his anger and indignation with difficulty.
“We’re going to take you up to Quebec and put you on trial for piracy!”
“That’ll be fine!” Jule commented.
The boys tried to smile and make light of the situation as the four men from the steamer boarded the Rambler, but they all understood that it was a very serious proposition that they were facing.
[CHAPTER IV—CONCERNING A LOST CHANNEL]
The men from the steamer took possession of the Rambler impudently, acting like ignorant men clothed with small authority. The boys were ordered to the cabin and the door locked.
“We left our manacles on board the Sybil,” one of the men announced, “or we’d rig you out with some of the King’s jewelry.”