“What are you about, you young villain? Do you mean to tie my hands?” demanded the fallen man.
“That’s the idea exactly,” replied Dory, as he attempted to pass the line around the arm held by the engineer.
Lingerwell had been quiet for a minute after Dory took hold of him, but the idea of being captured and tied up like a felon was too much for him. With a series of heavy oaths, he made a desperate effort to shake off his assailants. The engineer meant business, though the direction of the assault had been taken out of his hands by the new-comer. He lay down upon his victim, and jammed his knees into the small of his back, so that escape was impossible. Dory passed the line around the other wrist of the conspirator, and the two were securely bound together behind him.
“He is all right now, and cannot harm anybody,” said Dory. “Get another line, and we will
secure his feet.” Bolingbroke brought the rope, for by this time he could see that his great enemy was powerless.
Dory fastened the feet of Lingerwell together, and then turned him on his side, so that he could be more comfortable. Again the victim struggled to loose himself; but Dory had done his work well, and he could produce no impression upon the rope.
“This is an outrage!” yelled he, furious with passion.
“I suppose it isn’t an outrage to try to kill a man,” replied Dory, as he took the lantern and examined the fastenings he had put on the prisoner.
“I didn’t try to kill him! That is all nonsense!” replied Lingerwell, suspending his struggles.
“We won’t argue the matter now,” replied Dory, walking to the forward part of the boat.