Grumbling at the stinginess of their employer, Guy and Simon, with the help of one of the few sailors on the Princess, lowered a small boat, and pulled laboriously ashore. Meanwhile, Mr. Larabee went below with the two men, whom, had Dick seen, he would have at once recognized as those who acted so strangely toward him in New York.
"If we can't intercept him any sooner, we'll have to go all the way to Cuba, I guess," admitted Mr. Larabee, after a long talk with the two unscrupulous men he had hired. "But it's going to cost me a power of money."
"What of it? You'll get it all back, won't you?" asked Ike.
"Indeed, I will, and with interest, too. But I hate to put out so much at once. This is more than I've spent in a whole year at Dankville, and we've only been on this trip a few days. Oh, why didn't you hold on to him, when you had him that night in the rainstorm at Hamilton Corners?"
"We had a very good reason," said Sam. "His dog had too good a hold on us. I can feel his teeth yet, and my leg is still sore. If I'd got hydrophobia I'd had to sue you for damages, Mr. Larabee," and Sam winked at Ike.
"No, you wouldn't!" exclaimed the crabbed old man. "You signed a paper to do this work at your own risk, and I'll hold you to it. You can't sue me, no matter what happens."
"Oh, well, let's not quarrel," suggested Ike. "Now, when the boys come back we'll know what to do. While we're waiting, I guess I'll eat."
"Seems to me you're always eating," grumbled Uncle Ezra.
"The salt air gives me a good appetite," said Ike.
"Me, too," added his crony.