Holmes slumped into a chair. Defeat was written in his features. But he pulled himself together presently.
“You’ve got the upper hand right now,” he said. “But what good does it do you? I’m the only one who knows the truth, and the reason for all this. They won’t do anything to me–they can’t prove any kidnapping charge. The boat was disabled–I entertained these girls over night when they were stranded here.”
“We’ll see about that,” said Jamieson, quietly. “And I may know more than you think I’ve been finding out a few things since the talk I had with Jake Hoover in Bay City yesterday. Did you know that he was arrested the day before yesterday at Plum Beach?”
Evidently Holmes had not known it. The news was a fresh shock to him. But he was determined not to admit defeat.
“Much good he’ll do you!” he said. “He doesn’t know anything–even if he thinks he does.”
CHAPTER XV
THE MYSTERY SOLVED
There was a knock at the door, and, in answer to Jamieson’s call to come in, one of the young officers Bessie had seen at the fort entered. He smiled cheerfully at Bessie, saluted the other girls, and grinned at Jamieson.
“We’ve herded all the people we found around the place down in the boat-house,” he said. “They were too scared to do anything. Is this your man Holmes?”
“You guessed right the very first time, Lieutenant,” said Charlie. “Any sign of that boat from Rock Haven?”