"Oho!" he laughed, "this is a good joke! This foolish lad really supposed that he had bidden us good-by. Didn't you, lad?"
"Yes; I never expected to see you again."
Kirby laughed again.
"My lad," he said, "you are not yet smart enough to circumvent Peter Kirby. You'll have to be several years older at least."
"Mr. Kirby," said Dean, earnestly, "will you tell me why you want to keep me a prisoner?"
"Suppose I say that I like your society?"
"I shouldn't believe you."
"You are a sharp one, youngster. That isn't the only reason."
"So I thought. What is the reason, then?"
"You know too much and suspect too much, boy. You're a pesky young spy. We don't propose to leave you at liberty to injure us."