“I came up on a little business, uncle,” replied Dory.
“Very important business it was to me, Captain Gildrock,” added Mr. Longbrook. “I am under very great obligations to him.”
The breakfast-bell rang, and the boys were sent in to obtain the morning meal. The merchant gave an outline of the loss and recovery of his money. The captain asked a great many questions, which were all answered to his satisfaction. Then he insisted that the party should breakfast with him.
Mr. Longbrook accepted the invitation, and they entered the hotel. In the vestibule the merchant met the justice to whom he intended to apply for the warrant. He stated his case to him,
and the gentleman promised to have the warrant ready by the time he had finished his breakfast. The party seated themselves at the table.
“A telegram for you, Captain Gildrock,” said one of the clerks, bringing the message to him.
“‘Dory away; no pilot; cannot go up the lake.—Jepson,’” read the captain from the despatch in his hand. “Then you did not come down in the Sylph, Theodore. Of course you did not. I have heard the story of your movements during the night. I telegraphed to you last night from here to come down in the steamer, and take the new scholars to Beech Hill.”
“I have the Goldwing here, and I can take them home in her,” replied Dory.
“But I have ten boys with me: there they are at the other table. They are about as wild and harum-scarum a set of youngsters as I ever saw in my life. But we will take all that out of them in a few days, when I get them to Beech Hill,” replied the captain confidently.
“I can take the crowd up in the Goldwing.”