The officer said no more for several minutes. Dory concluded that he was looking over his chances of getting out of his prison. Probably he was willing to admit by this time that the tables had been turned upon him. The owner of the Goldwing could think of no way by which the prisoners could get out. The doors were made of plank, and he could not get at the hinges to operate upon them.
"I think we had better talk this thing over, Pearl," said Peppers, after a silence of several minutes. "We may be able to come to an understanding."
"I don't object to talking it over. I haven't got any thing else to do; but I am afraid we can't come to any understanding," replied the skipper. "You are a constable, police-officer, detective, and all that sort of thing; and I suppose you went over into Vermont on business. Did you finish it before you were locked into that place?"
Pearl chuckled, and was very good-natured in his remarks; and he plainly felt that he was master of the situation.
"I didn't finish my business; but, if you will open the door, I will end it in a very short time," answered the officer.
"Then I guess I won't open the door," laughed Pearl. "Perhaps you won't object to telling me what your business is in these parts."
"I can't do any thing till you let me out."
"Then you can't do any thing at all. You had better turn in, and take a nap for the rest of the day."
"Do you mean to keep us in here all day, Hawlinshed?"
"Yes: and all night if you don't behave yourself."