"Breaking away! I should think you had! Were you concerned in these disgraceful proceedings, Robert?"
"I was, sir. I am willing to own that I have done wrong."
Mr. Hale's stern look softened down, and I ventured to ask him to take a seat in my boat, and go over to the Institute, where he would have an opportunity to hear the whole story of the "breaking away," and judge for himself. During this conversation, a crowd had gathered around us, curious to know what had happened; and the charge we made against Mr. Parasyte was publicly proclaimed. Mr. Hale accepted my invitation, and we shoved off from the Adieno just as the Champion came up to the pier.
"Stop them! Stop them!" shouted the captain of the Adieno, as I was hoisting the jib.
No one ventured to stop a boat in which Mr. Hale, the most important person in the county, was seated.
"We want those boys!" called the angry captain again. "They are the ones who ran off with the boat."
"Captain Woelkers," said Mr. Hale, mildly.
"Ah, Mr. Hale!" exclaimed the captain, as he recognized the principal owner of the steamer he commanded.
"By whose authority did you take the Adieno to Pine Island to-day?"
"Mr. Parasyte wanted her, and I let him have her," stammered the captain.