Leaving the stateroom he locked the door, and as an extra precaution he stuffed the keyhole with a paper wad.
"Now he won't get out in a hurry, even if he does come around," he added, and hurried on deck and to the crowded dock. Soon he was lost to view amid the people and drays that were coming and going.
Half an hour after Frederic Vernon's departure a burly man of forty-five came on board the steamer and engaged the vacant berth in the stateroom Robert was occupying.
"I hope I have a good room-mate," observed Mr. Pelham, as he found his way below. "Frederic Vernon, eh? Well, that's a pretty good name."
He reached the stateroom, and finding the door locked, knocked upon it several times.
No answer came back, and Mr. Pelham was perplexed.
"Can the key be at the office?" he mused, and went off to see if such was the case.
Of course the article was not there, and a porter followed him to the room to let him in.
"The keyhole is stuffed," said the porter, after an examination. "Some of the children on board have been playing pranks again."
"Hark!" cried Mr. Pelham. "Am I mistaken, or did I hear a groan?"